The document discusses learning theories and how the author learns. It presents that learning happens in different ways for different learners based on theories like cognitivism and multiple intelligences. The author reflects that as a child she was a visual learner but as an adult she learns visually and through doing, aligning with cognitive constructivism. She also describes herself as a 21st century learner, relating to critical thinking, problem solving, communication and collaboration. As a teacher, she believes students learn through critically thinking, creating, collaborating and communicating about the world.

1. Personal Learning (& a Little Bit of My Teaching)
Theory Presented by:
Jessica Bentz

2. How does learning happen?
Learning happens in a variety of different ways because learners (adults and children) are diverse. Google
learning theories, and you’ll get over 4 million webpages referencing any of over 100 different learning
theories. After researching several, I think it’s safe to say that there is probably a learning theory for
everyone that has ever lived. No two learners acquire every concept the same way. For instance, child A and
child B both visualize math problems when adding and subtracting, but when they move on to science, child A
learns by doing while child B learns visually. There are 2 main theories presented in this example – Cognitivism1
and Multiple Intelligences2. Both are theories I studied in college and continue to see the effects of everyday.
The 2 theories mentioned are not the only ways that students learn, but merely an example of the number of
ways students interpret and demonstrate knowledge acquisition.

3. How do I learn?
Thinking back to my early childhood days, I remember watching something happen and
instinctively turning around and doing it whether it was a song we learned in music or
learning to decode CVC words. I was a visual learner. I caught on quickly and could do
practically anything once someone had shown me how.

4. How do I learn? Con’t.
As I’ve gotten older and continued my learning experience, I realize that I’m still a visual learner, but I
also learn by doing which is a cognitive constructivist theory. I like to see what is being presented so that I
understand the main points, but then let me free because I want to play with it and figure it out by myself. I
also think of my grown up self as a 21st century learner and an e-learner. We live in a technology and media-
rich world where information is available on-demand. Being a 21st century learner means harnessing that
information and then being able to think critically, problem solve, communicate, and collaborate3. E-learning
shares a similar belief system where information is accessible 24/7 and tools for communication and
collaboration are opening the classroom doors to a wealth of information. E-learning brings in one facet that
I find personally motivating – self-directed/-paced learning4. I relish the idea of moving at my own pace. I’m
typically a fast learner so having the ability to go at my own speed with a subject that I am invested in excites
me even more.

5. The Relationship Between Teaching & Learning
Teaching and learning go hand in hand. Being a teacher means that you are constantly
learning how your students are processing the information that you are providing. It’s a
game you play with your students, and assessing the information you provided should be fun.
Once your students have learned a concept, they can turn around and teach someone else.

6. Teaching Philosophy
My job as an educator is to prepare students for the world ahead. I know full well that
no one knows what lies ahead, but I have to keep looking forward. Looking for new ways to
teach the same concepts. Children come to school with technological skills that I didn’t
acquire until high school. My philosophy of teaching states that children learn by doing. At
this point, I’d like to edit that slightly because of the information that I researched. In my
21st century technology applications classroom, I believe that students learn by critically
thinking, creating, collaborating, and communicating with others about the world around
them.

7. Bibliography
1. Learning Theories. (2016, March 13). Constructivist Theory. Retrieved from
http://www.instructionaldesign.org/theories/constructivist.html
2. Learning Theories. (2016, March 13). Multiple Intelligences. Retrieved from
http://www.instructionaldesign.org/theories/multiple-intelligences.html
3. P21. (2016, March 13). Framework for 21st Century Learning. Retrieved from http://www.p21.org/our-
work/p21-framework
4. Tan, Seng Chee and Hung, David. (2016, March 13). Beyond Information Pumping: Creating a
Constructivist E-Learning Environment. Retrieved from
https://repository.nie.edu.sg/bitstream/10497/4735/1/ET-42-5-48_a.pdf