EDTECH 504-DB: Thoughts on Course, Usefulness of Theories, Key Link between Technology and Learning Theory

Running head: EDTECH 1
EDTECH 504-DB
Name
Academic Institution
Author Note
Class
Professor
Date

EDTECH 2
EDTECH 504-DB
Question one
My thoughts on the course: My thought for me is it was challenging but was pretty
much what I had expected. I learned that within a community of practice there are “leaky” and
sticky” knowledge which seems rather abstract concepts to me (Hoadley, 2012). In addition, the
concept of authentic activity in the culture of learning was quite revealing. This makes sense
when contextualized from the perspective that school activity exists in its own culture (Brown,
Collins, & Duguid, 1989). The use of machines in classroom learning has progressed from TV,
film, and radio to the use of computers. In this regard, I have learned that educators and teachers
should be flexible and responsive to changes in technology in the society (Cuban, 1986).
Usefulness of the Theories: It is too early to tell if I will use this information in the
future. However, it provides me with a deeper understanding of the foundations on which the
instructional designs are based. For example, the behaviorism, cognitivism, and constructivism
theories are important for educational designers in planning and conducting design activities
(Ertmer & Newby, 1993). The concept of educational technology is more practical as it broadens
my scope of understanding on the range of resources that constitute it. The differentiation
between teacher and facilitator in this regard is a useful concept which has immediate currency.
The theory of community of practice is useful now and will continue to be so in the
future based on several things. I have a better understanding of what knowledge is through the
concepts of “practice and community” (Hoadley, 2012). Knowledge is not meant to be handed
off but to be co-constructed. The theory of situated cognition will definitely have practical use in
the future in designing activities and learning tools which will improve student learning (Brown,
Collins, & Duguid, 1989).