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Microlearning Project Tool and Why I Picked It

The tool I selected for my Microlearning Project was Visme (located at https://www.visme.co/).  I selected Visme as I was looking for a software to use to design infographics and communications materials for my organization’s training team. I knew there were several different sites that will help you design infographics, but I chose Visme as it seemed to provide more assistance for someone who was new to infographics.  They provide many infographic, document, and slide templates; some standard icons, graphics, pictures; and they provide the ability to share just a link with others or to export the work.

Example Products

I have used Visme on several pages of my web site, including the Constructivism Overview Infographic on my Constructivism page, the Overview of Andragogy infographic, the Difference Between Cognitivism and Connectivism and the Learning Theory Table.

Learning Theory Reflection and Their Effectiveness

For the development of infographics for this course I was using the tool Visme. The learning theories that supported my learning of this new tool was constructivism and andragogy. When I first opened Visme, the tool started with some brief overviews of how to use it, so while some features were like other tools I’ve used (such as PowerPoint) this scaffolding was enough to get me started with the tool. The tool was also intrinsically motivating as I was able to keep exploring more and solving more problems. These two constructivist approaches, being intrinsically motivated to solve problems and having the scaffolding to help me through areas I didn’t know allowed me to absorb the information quickly and start working right away. (Tchoshanov 2013)

This tool also used andragogy in that the information was broken down into microlearning or small chunks of information that was easy to understand and apply. In addition, the learning was problem-centered not content-oriented and I was able to learn through my experience of making mistakes. This tool was also relevant to my personal life, use in this class, and to my job. Each of these elements follow Knowles Principles of Andragogy. (Kearsley, 2010)

Both theory’s principles were effective for me and supported my learning experience. With constructivism, I was not only motivated to start using it, but found that the more I used it the more I wanted to keep using it.  The process of exploration, and the sense of satisfaction from creating something kept me enticed to keep learning more.

With andragogy, I was learning through my mistakes, which at times were frustrating, but by solving the problem, I learned many other aspects to the tool and was more efficient with it the next time I went to use it. Both learning theories helped propel me to learn more, but I think the key was the use of both theories.  I don’t think the use of either theory would have been as effective on its own.

What was the “Ah-ha” Moment

The Ah-ha moment for me was when I found that I wanted to keep using the tool.  I really didn’t want to put it down.  It almost became addictive. The tool sparked my creative juices and because of the problem-solving as I created and the scaffolding with quick helps, overviews and templates, I wanted to keep creating. I haven’t really thought of myself as a creative person, but I am a problem-solver. So, using that approach to teach me a tool was probably one of the most effective approaches that could have been used.  Now I also know how effective that approach could be for some of my students.

References

Kearsley, G. (2010). Andragogy (M.Knowles). The theory Into Practice Database. Retrieved from http://tip.psychology.org

Pappas, C. (May 2013). The Adult Learning Theory – Andragogy – of Malcolm Knowles. Retrieved from https://elearningindustry.com/the-adult-learning-theory-andragogy-of-malcolm-knowles

Smith, M.K. (2002) ‘Jerome S. Bruner and the process of education’, the encyclopedia of informal education. Retrieved from http://infed.org/mobi/jerome-bruner-and-the-process-of-education/

Tchoshanov, M. (2013). Engineering of Learning: Conceptualizing e-Didactics. UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies in Education. Retrieved from http://iite.unesco.org/pics/publications/en/files/3214730.pdf

Photo Reference

Public Domain Pictures. (2019). Selective Focus Photography Black and White Microscope. Pexels. Retrieved from https://www.pexels.com/search/micro/