Selecting the Theory that Effectively Helps Students Mastery a Specific Task

Students speaking around a laptop.

Please note: This blog post is a course related assessment for the Master of Arts in Learning and Technology program at Royal Roads University. After reading Ertmper and Newby’s (2008) article “Behaviorism, Cognitivism, Constructivism: Comparing Critical Features From an Instructional Design Perspective”, I found myself captivated by Ertmer & Newby’s statement The critical question instructional designers must ask is not “Which is the best theory?” but “Which theory is the most effective in fostering mastery of specific tasks by specific learners?” (p 6.1) The current hybrid course I am teaching for the Winter 2019 semester requires students to learn the… Read More

The Disadvantages of Open Educational Resources

An open sign.

Please note: This blog post is a course related assessment for the Master of Arts in Learning and Technology program at Royal Roads University. When reviewing the unit 1 readings, I was pleased to see Teaching in a digital age by Tony Bates listed. I previously secured a hardcopy edition of Tony’s book at the 2017 World Conference on Online Learning and looked forward to the opportunity to read the book again, after a year of additional studies in the fields of learning and technology. With a new found interest in Open Educational Resources (OER), the first chapter I decided… Read More

Design Solution: Using Video-Based Discussion to Build Online Learning Communities

A man and a woman using their cellphones.

Please note: This blog post is a course related assessment for the Master of Arts in Learning and Technology program at Royal Roads University. “Learning is not safe. In fact, to learn is to take a risk, to become an aerialist, to put your head in the lion’s mouth. Learning is a death-defying act. And though it takes place largely within the confines of silent classrooms and sterile learning management systems, within the mind of the learner, riots can occur.” (Morris, 2016, para. 40) Context We are professors in post-secondary education, teaching in the fields of skilled trades and digital… Read More