What are your beliefs about how people learn?
If you study children from newborn to the time they able to walk it is an amazing feat that they are able to learn how to perform such as task without any formal education. No one is there to provide them instructions on balance, proper movement of the feet with each step, movement of the arms. They meerly seem to learn how to walk by trial and error. As an adult you watch the child to make sure that they are safe and will not harm themselves as the rountinely fall down and then get back up. After several attempts the child is successful and walks all over the place exploring their new world. The same is true when a child first learns how to ride a bike. There are no lessons on physics, balance, movement, speed, they get on the bike and learns by doing. No matter how old an individual is the way they learn is essentially still the same. We learn by doing. Learning is an active event and requires the individual to be involved in the learning process. As an educator we need to make sure that the students that we have in class is able to be actively involved and is not just being a passive participant. Learning theories are studies that have been done to determine how indivuals learn best such as "learning by doing" "Repetition is the best way to learn"
As a teacher, I see myself as a facilitor who provides learning opportunities for my students. This can be accomplished using Constructionist theories that believe that learning is an active process meaning that the students must be actively involved in the learning process. There may be some degree of lecturing in which I expect that the students minds must be like a sponge and willing and able to absorb all of the information that I can give them in one hour of class time. During the lecture I may use a PowerPoint or whiteboard to provide illustrations for those students who are visual learners. At the end of the lecture, I may provide a homework assignment that will ensure that those students who learn by doing will be able to get their feet wet and apply the concepts being taught.
References to learning theories that might be helpful:
Teaching with the constructivist Learning Theory
Behavioral Theories
Design Theories & Models
Module 2 Post
Over the course of my teaching experience I have learned and tried to apply various learning theories from Behaviorism, Cognitivism, Constructivism all in the hopes of being able to reach as many students as possible. As my career progressed I came to realize that the best possible way to reach as many students as possible, I needed to incorporate the best of all learning theories as I could. In reading the two blogs in this weeks modules I can agree with Karl Kapp when he states:
" Cognitivism doesn't explain 100% how humans process information and neither does Constructivism or Behaviorism. What we need to is take the best from each philosophy and use it wisely to create solid educational experiences for our learners"
Bill Kerr in his blog also points out that the "_isms" do not stand still but are constantly involving as they are implemented by teachers across the world. An additional thought that Kerr points out is that even the origional theorists have made changes to their theories as new information is gathered.
I have found that the following websites provide helpful information regarding learning theories.
http://otec.uoregon.edu/learning_theory.htm from the OTEC on this website you will find information regarding Brain Science, Learning Styles, Learning Theories, Theories of Intelligence, General Cognitive Science.
http://www.learning-theories.com/ is a "Webliography" that provides a wealth of information regarding the most used learning theories and paradigms used in education.
References:
http://billkerr2.blogspot.com/2007/01/isms-as-filter-not-blinker.html
http://www.uleduneering.com/kappnotes/index.php/2007/01/out-and-about-discussion-on-educational/
I like your post and the way you define learning theory in the context of your classroom experience, especially your analogy of “students’ minds” to “sponge” and reference to absorption of learning materials.
ReplyDeletePiaget (1971) proposes four stages of development during which the child develops sensory, language, abstract thinking, and critical thinking skills from zero to 16 years of age. Piaget also suggests the successive emergence of Intelligence, Speech, and Thought during that process. Your post strongly support this theory since the presence of intelligence at the earliest stage of development leads the learning or discovery process without the need of format training or coaching. However, I would like to point out that this theory does not support your argument that “No matter how old an individual is, the way they learn is essentially still the same”. Vygotsky’s (1980)’s depiction of the Zone of Proximal Development as the distance between what a learner is competent with (the comfort zone) and what cannot be learned even with the help of a teacher (forbidden zone) also does not support this assertion. Your point is however in harmony with Bruner (1960)’s hypothesis that “any subject can be taught effectively in some intellectually honest form to any child at any stage of development". Please note Bruner’s emphasis on intellectual honesty. Do you see connection or disconnect between the constructivism of Jean Piaget, Lev Vygotsky, and Jerome Bruner with your teaching practice from a learning by doing and constructionist perspective?
References
Bruner, J. (1960). The Process of Education. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press
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Piaget Jean (1971) The Child and Reality New York: Grossman Publishers.
Vygotsky Lev (1980) Thought and Language Cambridge: M.I.T. Press
Vygotsky Lev (1973) The Development of Higher Psychological Processes. Cambridge: Harvard University Press
As I was reading your blog I felt like what you were talking about was more behaviorism then constructionist. Behaviorists believe that motivation is necessary for a student to be successful. For example when a child takes it's first step it is praised for that step. The child is receiving positive reinforcement. If the child was to receive negative reinforcement for taking a step would they continue to try and walk or keep crawling?
ReplyDeleteSkinner, B. F. (1976). About Behaviorism. New York: Vintage Books.
You made some great points. After reading Internatinal Society of Differentiation I realized that one of the best methods is differentiation strategies and instruction. The development of differentiation instructions began the process used in maximizing learners by improving the individual needs and the curriculum.
ReplyDeleteReference:
International Society of Differentiation. (1973). Differentiation. Heidelberg: Springer-Verlag.
Tim, I enjoyed reading your post and agree with your general point about the importance of activating the student in the learning process. I'm curious, though, what are your thoughts on control of the learning process? I've found that giving students control and choice helps with both motivation and engagement. Would you agree with that? If so, how do you build choice into the coursework? Thanks!
ReplyDeleteGreat point Mike...some of the better projects my students complete are the ones where i give broad guidelines on what need to be done and the students choose the media, type of project, and develop the project on their own. I think giving them some control of the project does increase their motivation and engagement.
ReplyDeleteWhen it comes to your module two post I agree that it is important to include what works from all of the theories. Education is not a one size fits all system and the sooner everyone figures this out the better things will be for all of our students.
ReplyDeleteMr. Jordan,
ReplyDeleteI believe that none of the theories are 100% accurate. They do not provide complete certainty on ways that humans learn, behave, process information, etc. Therefore, people express their agreement, or argues them. As educators, we are in search to assist our student to succeed academically. If that means, to base our teaching strategies on more than one learning theory; so be it.
I enjoy reading your post. It was very insightful.
Yahira