The Influence of Cognitive Sciences on Instructional Design

I think that both have their own object of study, but share a common interest in human cognition and performance as part of instructional systems. Also both sciences may exchange influence on each other. Cognitive science often conducts research on cognitive processes and setting written instructional strategies and guidelines that related to these strategies for improving instructional systems. Instructional design conducts research on applicable instructional strategies, and observations of students working according to those strategies to realize the instructional goals /outcomes. Instructional design is goal driven theory. Man y changes have been taken place on instructional design as it helps change the way instructors design and deliver lesson. Adding more practices of maximizing the effectiveness, efficiency and appeal of instruction and other learning experiences. Instructional theories also play an important role in the design of instructional materials. Theories such as behaviorism, constructivism, social learning and cognitivism help shape and define the outcome of instructional materials. Over the past century, college and university demographics have changed. Recently there has been an influx of non-traditional learners enrolling in colleges and universities. Due to this change in learner base, there comes the need to look at the methods of design for instruction within adult classrooms. In an article written by Deborah Ash in March, 2007 “a focus on theory of transformative learning and learner – centered learning thus begun. Can instructional designers utilize this theory in order to ensure a better learning environment for adult that are filling college campuses?” Is transformative learning supportive of the shift? Thus also show reciprocal influence of instructional design on cognitive sciences. Instructional designers can present new knowledge in a way that helps the learners to act upon, facilitate access to course projects that reflect on the new perspectives, allowing for general discussion on how to use their knowledge in real life and encouraging learner to engage in problem solving topics. The best model which I want to use in my online course is the Dick & Carey and Kemp ISD model which uses rapid prototyping. This is the idea of receiving continual or formative feedback while instructional materials are being created. This model is an attempt to save time by catching problems while they are still easy to fix. Learner centered strategies are: The Course will be conducted online through e-learning. Students will be engaging virtually in on-line communication, interaction and collaboration through:
• Threaded discussions
• Journal or blog response
• intensive weekly reading with one page reflection on required textbook chapter reading ( individual assignment)
• Online Lecture topics
• week one quizzes
• week two multimedia presentation project( Group assignment)
• Week three Final Exam
• 15 hours every week of on-line class time within the scheduled period in order to complete requirements for 3 semester units of credit.
• Full marks will be given to complete and correct assignments that turned in before or on due date.
• Assessments other than quizzes and Final Exam, are three rubrics for:
o Reading / Writing assignment
o Discussion
o Multimedia group projects
• Communication:
o Assignments will be turned in, every week in Sunday, before midnight PMT
o Through drop box
o Email
o Discussion platform
o Week starts Monday at 21: Am PMT


References:
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/165407/teaching_through_transformation_learnercentered_pg3.html?cat=4

Web 2.0 builds Virtual teaching club

Web 2.0 Refers to what was perceived as a second generation of web development and web design. It is characterized as facilitating communication. Therefore, Web 2.0 is a new generation and development of the old generation Web1.0 that helps the user publishes, participates, collaborates, shares and displays his ideas and knowledge with others in a collaborative virtual community. It facilitates asynchronously or synchronously the e-learning, distance learning and online courses. Many tools can be used to communicate with others to form a social networking Net, such as black board, online Journal, Twilker, podcasts, blogging, Wikis, emails, tagging, Ajax, and Flicker... Listen to the developer of Web 2.0, Tim O'Reilly giving a short definition to Web 2.0 and as well as the application of Web 2.0 is our daily interactions and communications. Watch three videos from my blogs: http://web2videos.blogspot.com/ That show how web 2.0 does work and offer a soul and spirit to online community collaboration and interactions globally and makes us easily communicate and learn from each other. The historic changes in information are going to force educators to historic changes in teaching and learning to integrate such technologies in instructional process. Web 2.0 ads more opportunities to help students shift to become continual self learners and less dependent only upon classroom lessons. In preparing online units course, I use discussion platform and online Journal to promote students interaction through participating in discussion board and publishing their ideas/reflection on assigned topics in online journal, simultaneously encourages the collaborative working group in multimedia projects on topics given to each group. Groups meet virtually to display their findings in a virtual asynchronous presentation. Each group presents its findings on blogs or Journals for further discussions, comments and response. Simply, this is the way my course ties the students to interact and share experiences.
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