Reflection on learning process

In learning Canva software to create an infographic based off an article (which itself was based off of a book titled *How to Be an Antiracist*), **Andragogy** and **Constructivism** were the primary learning theories that were a part of my learning.

The reason **Andragogy** was particularly relevant to my learning is because the way the site and resources on it were designed was user-friendly for adults, and assumed a *readiness to learn and particular experiences* I would have had regarding technology and utilizing online tools. It also followed a principle of andragogy that "experience (including mistakes) provides the basis for learning activities." I was making mistakes and fixing them as I was going through the tool, and was testing its limits while learning it. It was also a tool that I know will have immediate relevance in creating trainings and other related learning resources, and it therefore piqued by *intrinsic motivation* to learn it and to keep practicing and refining my tool.

I also utilized **(Social) Constructivism**, as I reviewed my classmates' tools that they had created for their microlearning projects, to see the different directions they took the project, and to see what I thought were useful components and apply them where relevant to my own tool. Many of my colleagues in this class fall into the category of being More Knowledgeable Others--where the plain instructions of how to do the activity fell flat, viewing example infographics from their pages and other websites' infographics was a meaningful way for me to learn more and go into the zone of proximal development through their support. In the absence of classroom discussion, reviewing my colleagues/classmates' thoughts was a good substitute for how in-person communication and engagement could have bridged knowledge gaps. And, the idea of intrinsic motivation was also relevant here, as it is a component of constructivism in addition to andragogy.

My biggest "aha" moment was realizing that learning theories operate can operate in practice at the same time, and that they are not necessarily clearly-demarcated during a given learning experience. While practical learning might have important connections to andragogy, when I construct new knowledge or connect with others, I'm engaging in constructivism, connectivism, and cognitivism all at the same time. Once I realized what I wanted to learn, who I could learn from, and how best to seek out answers, the process of learning came naturally.