This course dealt with establishing the foundation of knowledge for learning and instructional theories and establishing a framework for how learners acquire knowledge. One of the main purposes of this course is to expose learners, through authentic experiences, to some of the tenets and principles of learning and instructional theories that would allow them to make their judgments of the relevance of each theory. This can be exemplified by learning about constructivism by working collaboratively in small groups, discussing, answering questions, responding to and challenging peers’ ideas among others. Learners who self-reflect and have high metacognition will formulate their own opinions toward theories, evaluate their performance and make conclusions as it relates to how learners learn.

Even if participants are already versed on some of the most common learning theories such as behaviourism, cognitivism and constructivism, this course is still certain to progress their knowledge. By the end of the course, one adopts a view of how to design learning using learning and instructional theories and how traditional and contemporary theories can be meshed. It also emphasises developing optimal learning environments that are theory-grounded and some which use technology. For instance, automated feedback, right and wrong responses and self-paced modules in elearning contexts are behaviouristic in nature and discussion forums have a semblance to constructivism (Ertmer & Newby, 1993). One leaves the course with a wealth of knowledge on traditional and contemporary theories that can act as heuristics. Since this course, I have modified my approach to how I initially viewed learning and instructional theories. Currently, I look for commonalities and differences of theories and take a critical stance toward them, judging them based on expected results and experience. I then culminate them based on their best practices and rely more on my subjective view. I therefore consider goals or objectives of the learning environment firstly. What results am I looking to achieve? Which theories would sync well with this? Why? Which elements of the theories should be prominent? These questions in turn help me to create a suitable learning environment.