What is learning?
I feel like all of these learning theories blur together. They all have unique aspects to them, yet they all seem so similar. If I was going to be a learning theorist and do research and conduct studies to come up with my own learning theory, I wouldn't have any idea what my topic would be. It seems that everything has been covered. Yet, we have only learned about a few of the main educational theories that are out there. The synthesis of all of them is that learning cannot be "spoon-fed," "pored into your brain," etc. Knowledge has to be acquired and metamorphosed into learning by some action, discovery, or problem solution.
Teacher Effectuated?
This class has definitely opened my eyes to how students learn. Typical math classes are taught in very routine, teacher-centered ways. I scaffold a lot of what I do: explanation, guided practice, independent practice with support, homework without support. However, the way I teach is not really engaging the students in the way that any of these theories suggest. On a regular daily basis, I am not encouraging my students to discover anything or solve problems above and beyond what it is they are learning. Although I have high expectations for what they do and how well they achieve, perhaps I am not providing them with the best learning environment possible. I think I am a good teacher, but if I could incorporate more of what I have learned in this class, I think I could be a great teacher!
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Week of November 16th - Bruner
What is Learning?
According to Bruner, learning is this continuous process from childhood to adulthood. Children can learn bits and pieces of any concept as long as it is presented in a manner they can understand. This feels a lot like background knowledge, situated cognition, and several other theories. But, they all come back to this idea that learning is not stagnant. It is this evolving entity shaped by experience and action.
Teacher?
What can the teacher do? Allow for opportunities for students to discover and allow for opportunities for students to spiral their learning. In my math classes, I consider spiral curriculum each day when I write the bell ringer problems. They are always reminiscent of a prior class or sometimes will relate to an old topic which will, in turn, introduce a new topic. During my last unit in Algebra B, we have reviewed at the beginning of each class, problems that were missed on the previous test. This unit will have new material and old material. The students are finally starting to catch on to the old material, but are also enriching it with the new stuff.
According to Bruner, learning is this continuous process from childhood to adulthood. Children can learn bits and pieces of any concept as long as it is presented in a manner they can understand. This feels a lot like background knowledge, situated cognition, and several other theories. But, they all come back to this idea that learning is not stagnant. It is this evolving entity shaped by experience and action.
Teacher?
What can the teacher do? Allow for opportunities for students to discover and allow for opportunities for students to spiral their learning. In my math classes, I consider spiral curriculum each day when I write the bell ringer problems. They are always reminiscent of a prior class or sometimes will relate to an old topic which will, in turn, introduce a new topic. During my last unit in Algebra B, we have reviewed at the beginning of each class, problems that were missed on the previous test. This unit will have new material and old material. The students are finally starting to catch on to the old material, but are also enriching it with the new stuff.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Week 9 - Situated Cognition
What is learning?
Learning takes background knowledge, experience, motivation, etc. It takes more than opening up a students' head and pouring in information. Students need to be active and apply knowledge to other contexts. Every theory we have learned about has some merit, as does situated cognition.
How is learning effected by the teacher?
Abbot, in the video we watched this week, said "Learning and schooling are not necessarily the same thing." This is quite profound. It contradicts our current education system, meaning that if students are in school soaking up knowledge every day by sitting in a classroom, they are not really learning it. Students need to have experiences that build meaning and put the curriculum into the right context. It would take a massive effort to get our traditional public schools to switch from a classroom setting to a more hands-on setting. I think we need to change. We are failing a lot of kids in our current school system. I'm just not sure what the solution is.
Learning takes background knowledge, experience, motivation, etc. It takes more than opening up a students' head and pouring in information. Students need to be active and apply knowledge to other contexts. Every theory we have learned about has some merit, as does situated cognition.
How is learning effected by the teacher?
Abbot, in the video we watched this week, said "Learning and schooling are not necessarily the same thing." This is quite profound. It contradicts our current education system, meaning that if students are in school soaking up knowledge every day by sitting in a classroom, they are not really learning it. Students need to have experiences that build meaning and put the curriculum into the right context. It would take a massive effort to get our traditional public schools to switch from a classroom setting to a more hands-on setting. I think we need to change. We are failing a lot of kids in our current school system. I'm just not sure what the solution is.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Week 11 - Case-based Learning
What is learning?
Learning has many faces and case-based learning is yet another to add to it. I still stand by one of my original statements that learning involves actively acquiring knowledge and being able to apply it. Learning can happen in a variety of ways. Putting knowledge is case-story situations will work well for many people.
How can learning be best effectuated by the teacher?
Again, learning has many faces and although most strategies are good, variety is best. All students learn differently and what works well for one may not be quite as successful for another. Similarly, what you think won't work for you, may work wonders for a student. We can't be afraid to try different situations. I often get stuck in the rut of my routine in my class and forget or don't have time to plan more interesting activities. My goal in the next couple of weeks is to actually use the lesson plan I've written this week and work on a few others.
Learning has many faces and case-based learning is yet another to add to it. I still stand by one of my original statements that learning involves actively acquiring knowledge and being able to apply it. Learning can happen in a variety of ways. Putting knowledge is case-story situations will work well for many people.
How can learning be best effectuated by the teacher?
Again, learning has many faces and although most strategies are good, variety is best. All students learn differently and what works well for one may not be quite as successful for another. Similarly, what you think won't work for you, may work wonders for a student. We can't be afraid to try different situations. I often get stuck in the rut of my routine in my class and forget or don't have time to plan more interesting activities. My goal in the next couple of weeks is to actually use the lesson plan I've written this week and work on a few others.
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