Abstract
The sheer volume of technological innovations with educational potential along with the myriad of instructional theories and models present quite the challenge for educators. A contemporary framework is needed to connect these components with learning theory and to ultimately serve as a guide to educators grappling with how to align the interrelated components of effective instruction when using educational technologies. The objective of this chapter is to present a viable contemporary framework to fulfill this need. The Adaptable Learning Theory Framework for Technology Enhanced Learning (AF-TEL) provides a framework based on the cognitive presence, social presence, and teaching presence tenets of the Community of Inquiry model (Garrison, Anderson, & Archer, 2003) to achieve desired educational outcomes. Professional Development for STEM Teachers using Discovery Labs (PDSTDL) is a format of teacher professional development that integrates AF-TEL to address the critical need of preparing effective STEM teachers.
TopBackground
Behaviorism, cognitivism, and constructivism are three predominant learning theories that have guided education and instructional development (Ertmer & Newby, 2013; Johnson, 2014; Schunk, 2011). Learning through the lens of behaviorism occurs when an appropriate observable performance of a behavior occurs as a response to an associated stimulus. The desired behavior is further strengthened through reinforcement of the stimulus-response (Schunk, 2011). Interest in the mental activities associated with information acquisition, organization, storage, and retrieval emerged as a focus for educators and psychologists in the 1950s resulting in a shift to cognitivism (Ertmer & Newby, 2013) . Both behaviorism and cognitivism are based on an objective view of reality where a real word exists independent of the learner. Constructivism contends that learning occurs through interpretations of personal experiences of the real world. Knowledge is not seen as independent of the learner; instead learners “create meaning as opposed to acquiring it” (Ertmer & Newby, 2013, p. 55).
Key Terms in this Chapter
Instructional Strategy: The process of organizing content and activities for learners to achieve desired learning outcomes.
Theory of Constructionism: The perspective that learning is most effective when the learner experiences constructing a meaningful product.
Technology Enhanced Learning: The application of information and communication technologies to teaching and learning for the purpose of motivating and engaging the learner.
Teaching Presence: The facilitation and organization of both Cognitive presence and social presence toward desired learning outcomes.
Social Presence: The extent to which learners are able to present themselves and their characteristics within a community of inquiry.
Cognitive Presence: The extent to which learners are able to construct meaning within a community of inquiry.
Community Of Inquiry: A collaborative group of individuals that supports personal and mutual understanding of a given topic developed through critical discourse and reflection.