ECI 660 - Cognition and Instructional Design: Week of March 23

Tasks

• Towards a Theory of Learning
• Books
• Discussion of Motivation
• Assignments

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Towards a Theory of Learning

OK, now your heads are full of theory and it's all a-swim. Let's get down to the business of this class - the creation of your personal theory of learning.

The overt product of your work will be a Course Paper, but you may not want to think of that yet. Instead, start thinking about the learning situations you are in and look for problems that need solving. Problems are the difference between what is and what should be. What is going wrong with the learning environment? Is there a certain kind of student that just doesn't get reached?

Look to the eLectures for more thoughts about this process as we proceed.

Why a paper? Writing helps us think, and thinking is what school is all about. Don't let the project be daunting - just keep in simmering in the back of your mind and jot down occasional notes that seem important.

Right now, look for something interesting to work on.

 

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Books

These should be about complete by now, and ready for inclusion in your personal theories. Also I'd like you to be ready to use those books as resources in our upcoming discussions on the learning theories and how they may work in instructional design.

 

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Discussion of Motivation

In class we will discuss the ideas in motivation. I see at least the following categories:

• Sources of Motivation
  • Curiosity
  • Goals
  • Self efficacy
• Conditions for Continuing Motivation and Self-Regulation
  • Satisfying expectancies
  • Making attributions
  • Monitoring progress
  • Managing the learning environment
• ARCS
  • Attention
  • Relevance
  • Confidence
  • Satisfaction

The Design Process Proposed for Motivational Design

1. Analyze the audience
2. Define motivational objectives
3. Design a motivational strategy
4. Try out and revise as necessary

 

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Assignments for March 29

• Driscoll Chapter 10: pp 341 - 372
• Reading Notes
  • Reading Notes for Indiana U.
  • The Three Facets of Gagné's Theory of Instruction are further explained at these sites
    • A Taxonomy of Learning Outcomes
    • Gagné's Nine Events of Instruction: An Introduction
  • The Nine Events of Instruction at this Penn State University site

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