Here is the revised version of my prompt-1, I added the learning theory of my learning process.
When I was young, I played computer games very often. One day, I surfed the internet and found that some players were editing the games. I thought it was awesome because when you have the ability to edit or design a game, you will be the one who creates the rule rather than the one who obey the rule. Editing the game is not easy for me as I was young and had little knowledge about the computer. Still, I tried my best to read the method they used to change the data of the game. Then, I downloaded a software and used it to open the data of the game. Suddenly, many “0” and “1” appeared, that was how the computer stored the data of the game. For the next few days, I spent a great amount of time trying to figure out the meaning of the specific number in the specific position. It was dull and time-consuming, but I really enjoyed it and didn’t feel tired at all. I got very strong motivation–to be the designer of the games. Finally, I successfully changed some basic parameters of the game. Later, I found something even more attractive that someone could change the model and effects of the game! It was amazing. However, to achieve that, I need to learn more. Therefore, when I was in middle school, I started to learn something about programming and I joined the programming competition class. The process of learning is boring because you have to face with the code all the time. But to me, the code seems to have magic. When you master all kinds of computer languages such as java, python, C++ and so on, you can use them to direct the computer to finish all kinds of tasks. Also, you can design a game on your own.
In the first week of learning, I learned about learning theories. There are three learning theories: Behaviorism, Cognitivism and Constructivism. According to Ertmer, Behaviorism regards learning as reacting to the environmental stimulus. For example, when you encounter a specific issue, you will respond to it, and “learning is accomplished when a proper respond is demonstrated following the presentation of a specific environmental stimulus.”(Ertmer & Newby 2013) Cognititivism stresses the acquisition of knowledge. Cognitivists believe that learning involves some complex cognititive processes such as thinking, problem solving, language, concept formation and information processing that behaviorism can not explain well. (Ertmer & Newby 2013) As for constructivism, it emphasizes that learning is a subjective issue, which is different from the other two theories which both regard learning as objective. The constructivists believe that the knowledge bases on one’s interpretation of the world. As a result, we need to let the person try something in the real world to acquire knowledge. (Ertmer & Newby 2013)
Based on what I have learned, I believe the learning theory of my learning process is cognitivism. Computer programming is a complicated subject. In programming, we need to learn a new kind of language-machine language so that we can tell the computer what we want it to do. Also, computer science is exactly about problem solving. When you write codes, you aim to use the codes to solve a problem. Programming is essentially solving problems with computers. Therefore, the process of learning programming is based on cognitivism.
Reference:
Ertmer, P. A., & Newby, T. J. (2013). Behaviorism, cognitivism, constructivism: Comparing critical features from an instructional design perspective. Performance Improvement Quarterly, 26(2), 43-71.
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