Our educational technology class has traveled across the learning theory path using the stepping stones of:

Behaviorism w/ emphasis on B.F. Skinner and Teaching Machines
Cognitive Theory w/ emphasis on Schema Theory
Constructivism w/ emphasis on Technology and the Classroom
Connectivism w/ emphasis on New Media & New Learning and George Siemens’s Connectivism: A Learning Theory For a Digital Age

Today I created an HTML image map for Connectivism – it’s been many, many years since I’ve made one. I guess that they have fallen so far out of favor that the few HTML editing applications I have don’t create them well or at all. I ended up using a free image map creator online which served my purpose fine.

It’s unwarranted to pick a favorite theory or to rank them in terms of their importance in relation to educational technology. Each theory has its place at different times in performing the task of shepherding learners along their journey. I’ve found positive and useful instances of behaviorism in some applications and a terrible disservice to its qualities in others.

Applications that are minimalistic in approach and deep in design, such as Logo Programming, are engaging as they benefit from a Constructivist approach.

The Logical Journey of the Zoombinis wins a double mention as it ties in Cognitive Theory in so well with its use of schemata. If the game is played as intended, by bringing across all of the Zoombinis across all of the puzzles, each problem becomes appropriately challenging as it players learn from previous attempts.

For my final project for Ed. Tech I am using elements of Connectivism to bring students together internationally to answer individual queries among classrooms. Again, all the theories have their time and place and can create meaning for learners in different and pertinent ways depending upon their context.