Social Constructivism-How can learning best be effectuated by a teacher?

As teachers, I think that we need promote independent learning in our classrooms as much as possible. More often than not, we continually try to spoon feed knowledge to our students, rather than allowing them to discover it on their own. We need to take a step back from our role as a teacher and become more of a learning assistant. We need to allow our students to take ownership of their learning and then make ourselves available to our students when they feel they have reached a point where they can progress no further. We can then be the person the student goes to help refine their understanding.

Social Constructionism-What is Learning?

Learning is using the best of what you have of your own abilities to acquire new knowledge, and then seeking outside resources to refine and perfect your understanding of that knowledge. Far too often we a spoon fed information and don't take the opportunity to use our own ability to be and independent learner. I think we would be amazed at what we can learn if we really pushed our own learning abilities.

An example of this is with the media. I think the media is always trying to spoon feed us information and we accept whatever they give us. Rarely do we take the opportunity or time to do research on our own. If we did do this, maybe we could find come to our own conclusion on various issues. We could then test the accuracy of our conclusion by consulting with others who might be an expert the the topic that we are studying.

Week 13: Bruner-How can learning be effectuated by a teacher?

As teachers, we can help our students understand abstract ideas by allowing them to experience concrete ideas. These concrete ideas need to be representative of abstract ideas. As the students experience the concrete, we as teachers need to help them to connect the concrete representations with the abstract. As we do this, students will continually spiral to higher levels of understanding.

Since most of the material that my students learn requires using a computer, students are confronted with abstract ideas all the time. They have to be able to understand the processes a computer goes through to compute information. I constantly have to find ways to provide students with concrete examples that effectively represent the abstract. I find that the more hands on experience I give my students, the more likely they are able makes connections and understand the abstract subject matter.

Week 13: Bruner-What is Learning?

Based on Bruner's theories of learning I would define learning as the refinement of knowledge. I agree with Bruner's hypothesis that any human being can learn something about even the most abstract of ideas at any age. I think when we are learning something new, we start with what we know and as we have direct experiences with the topic at hand, our knowledge evolves to a higher level of understanding.

As a teacher of Mulitmedia, every year I get students who have very little knowledge of computers let alone multimedia, and I am always amazed to watch their understanding evolve throughout the school year. As these students have direct experiences in multimedia, they start to make connections with what the knowledge that they brought to the class. Gradually over time and with enough exposure to multimedia, they make connections and are able to learn and create actual functioning multimedia.

I think this is what Bruner meant by his hypothesis. Everyone brings knowledge to the table, and given enough exposure to and experience in a certain subject, connections will be made and knowledge is gradually refined to higher understanding.

Week 12-Situated Cognition: How can learning best be effectuated by a teacher?

Teachers can effectuate learning by providing students with meaningful hands-on learning experiences. For example, if I wanted to properly teach my students the process of applying for a job, I need to create activities that allow them to experience this process. I could have them actually look for a job online or in a newspaper, fill out a job application, create a resume based on their skills and experiences, and participate in an job interview. By taking the students through these activities, they are not just being told the process, they are experiencing it. Through these experiences, they can become accustomed to the job application process and see and experience it for themselves. I believe by allowing the students to do so, they will be able to remember and do what they need to and will therefore be all the more prepared when it comes to applying for a job. I think this is what is meant by situated cognition.

Week 12-Situated Cognition: What is Learning?

Based on this weeks learning theory, I would say that learning is experiencing. It is one thing to read from a book or listen to someone try to explain something, but it is completely something else to actually go out and be right in the middle of it experiencing a concept first hand. For example, I could try to explain to someone who has never driven a car before how to drive and they might understand the concept, but they won't be able to do it. The best way for them to learn to drive a car is to get behind the wheel and experience this. Through this experience the brain is working along with the rest of their body and the body as a whole is becoming accustomed to the concept. When an individual is having an experience, they can have failures and successes and see the results of their choices in a given situation. Through this process, deep and meaningful learning occurs.

Week 11, Case Based Learning: How can learning best be effectuated by a teacher?

Teachers should look for every opportunity they have to give students life-like experiences in the classroom. The teacher can do this by presenting students with real-life scenarios for the students to engage in. These scenarios should give the students the opportunity to recall their own previous experiences and to gain from the experiences of others.

One of the most memorable learning experiences that I had in high school came from my 11th grade US History class. Our teacher wanted us to understand what situations many immigrants were faced with in this country before certain labor laws were put into place. To do this, he took us into the little gym of our high school with the light low. He had us perform various tasks and made us sit on the floor to do so. As we were completing the tasks he would yell out instructions to us in Czech. After this activity, we discussed what conditions we were under and how we felt about those conditions. We then compared our experiences to those of early immigrants and the work conditions that they were exposed to. I can honestly say that I gained an understanding and even an appreciation for what immigrants went through during that period of history. To this day I can still recall much of what we discussed on that day, and I could give you a good idea of what it was like for immigrant workers before certain labor laws were put into place.

To me, this is a great example of a memorable learning experience. We didn't just talk about the working conditions of immigrant workers, we experienced it, and we were able to share each others thoughts and perceptions on the whole situation. This case-based learning activity is something that I will remember for the rest of my life, and I can honestly say, it is something that took me to a higher place in learning.

Week 11, Case Based Learning: What is Learning?

Based on this weeks learning theory I would say that learning is engaging in new experiences, sharing experiences, and learning from others experiences. I think a lot of times students are expected to meet learning expectations by memorizing and then recalling information when asked to do so. So much pressure is put on teachers to have students pass state tests that curriculum is based upon teaching to the test. Students should have educational experiences that they will remember and use in the future. What good is it to a student if all they can do is recall information for a test to only forget it later. Real life experience is the best and most meaningful teacher and students should be given as many experiences as possible that will expose them to new ideas and information.