Week 2 Readings and Resources

Teaching perspectives

• Bates, T. (2012). Nine steps to quality online learning: Step 1: Decide how you want to teach online. (blog post)
• Pratt, D. and Collins, J.B. (2001). Teaching Perspectives Inventory Note: read the explanation of the five teaching perspectives.

Learning Styles

Note:  If you're already familiar with learning styles, we suggest you watch Professor Willingham's short video and scan the Pashier, Rohrer and Bjork article.  

• Conner, M. (2002). Introduction to Learning Styles. - good overview of main types of learning styles - perceptual modalities, multiple intelligences, "mind styles", Kolb, MBTI
• Felder, Richard M. & Soloman, Barbara A. (n.d.). Learning styles and strategies.
  Note: This piece suggests specific study strategies for learners who may not be receiving information in their preferred "mode" or "style".
• (YouTube, 6:55 min). Professor Daniel Willingham describes research showing that learning styles are a myth
• Pashler, H., McDaniel, M., Rohrer, D., & Bjork, R. (2008). Learning Styles: Concepts & Evidence. Psychological Sciences in the Public Interest, 9 (3), 105-119.

Teaching in a Connected World

Note:  Scan each of these three articles and read at least one. 

• Contact North (2013) A New Pedagogy is Emerging - and Online Learning is a Key Contributing Factor

• Jacobsen, M. (Fall, 2014) Teaching in a Participatory Digital World, Education Canada. Vol.54, Issue 4
• Bates, T. (Aug 22, 2014) Key characteristics of learners in a digital age and their influence on the design of teaching and learning (blog post)
  • Note the paragraphs discussing increasing diversity and age of students.

Online Learning Theories:

• Vaughan, N., Cleveland-Innes, M., & Garrison, D. (2013). Conceptual Framework. In Teaching in Blended Learning Environments: Creating and Sustaining Communities of Inquiry (pp. 7-18). Athabasca: AU Press   (Note:  download free PDF and read chapter that explains the Community of Inquiry framework - ideas around "presence" in online learning)
• Carleton University (2014) - video 8 min - Benefits and Challenges of Online Learning

Learning Theories - review

Note: Use these resources to refresh your memory of specific learning theories or to visualize the different beliefs about how people learn

• A Visual Primer On Learning Theory, 01/11/2013, TeachThought Staff
• Smith, M. K. (2011). Learning theory. In The encyclopedia of informal education.
• Bransford, J.D., Brown, A.L. & Cocking, R.L. (2000). How People Learn: Brain, Mind, Experience and School, National Research Council, National Academy Press (ebook)
  • Note Chapter 8: Teacher Learning
• Conner, Marcia L. (2002). A Primer on Educational Psychology. Institute of Training & Occupational Learning (ITOL) Journal, (January). (Cog, Behav, Constructivism, Humanism). Copyright Marcia Conner.

Optional

Learning Styles Assessments

Take 1 (or more) Learning Styles Assessment and see what you think about the results...or, just look at the questions - this is a good way to get a feel for the assumptions/ideas behind learning styles.

• Solomon, Barbara A. & Felder, Richard M. (n.d.). Index of Learning Styles Questionnaire. North Carolina State University.
  (44 brief questions, scored on web) is an online instrument used to assess preferences on four dimensions (active/reflective, sensing/intuitive, visual/verbal, and sequential/global) of a learning style model formulated by Richard M. Felder and Linda K. Silverman.