Learning, in my opinion, is the epitome of the educational system. It is the ability to acquire knowledge, and to use that knowledge to the benefit of oneself, and to the wider society. But, what is really meant by the term ‘learning’? Why do people learn? How do people learn? These are some of the questions that have been asked over the years; solutions have been given, but many people, I believe, are still yearning for more answers. To some, an ultimate solution needs to be found, while to others, the process is ongoing. There is no final answer to these questions, as the belief of many, is that, the education system, with its structures and alignment, are always developing as the social systems of society changes. The term ‘learning’ has been defined in so many ways by psychologists, educators, and scholar practitioners, to name a few. It has also being critically assessed by ancient and modern scholars. One such scholar is George Siemens, a theorist on learning in a digitally-based society.
In a video ‘What is learning for me?’ Siemens view learning as a connect. This connection is with other people, and with tools that enhance his learning. However, he mentioned that there are barriers to his learning whenever things like copyright and government initiatives arise.
What-Is-Learning-For-Me-George-Siemens
Even though I agree with Siemens in part with his theory of the concept of leaning, with regards to the connection with people, I believe that when things like copyright or even government initiatives come alive, that is also learning, and not really a barrier, as he stated. Philosophically, how would he know that these tools are infringing on his right to learn if he did not learn that these tools exist to perform the task that he said they are performing? Overall, I believe that people learn through doing and repeating a task that allows them to gain the concept of the task, which eventually becomes a part of their inner being, as they demonstrate it to the wider society.
The theory of learning is of utmost importance to any discipline in society. One such discipline is educational technology. Learning is a mindset, so Siemens, the digitally-based theorist on learning, compares the mind to the computer. He said that, like the computer, ‘we accept inputs, manage them in short-term memory, archive them in long term memory, (and retrieve in short-term memory when needed), generating some type of output’. Technology is a tool that is used to enhance learning, and learning occurs when it’s coupled with teaching or instruction. Together, they formed what has come to be known as educational technology. Therefore, since technology has an effect on the learning process, the theory of learning must be a part of this digital discipline, which has whirlwind into the 21st century, with no intention of retreating.
Reference
Driscoll, M. P. (2005). Psychology of learning for instruction (3rd ed.).
Siemens, G. (2008, January 27). Learning and knowing in networks: Changing roles for educators and designers. Paper presented to ITFORUM for discussion. Retrieved December 8 from http://www.tskills.it/userfiles/Siemens.pdf
