"We need to take pieces from each school of thought and apply it effectively.... Cognitivism doesn't explain 100% how humans process information and neither does Constructivism or Behaviorism" (Kapp, 2007). Theorist have forced society to determine which theory "fits best",even though each have characteristics of one another. Politics, Kerr used the right word to describe learning theories. It is a big debate determining which theory best explains learning. Each theorist reviewed previous findings of past theorist and based their results off their personal opinions. Everyone thinks and display their knowledge differently. I guess the picture society is painting is that anyone can create a learning theory by: conducting an experiment (on animals), present results, and ensure that ism is at the end of the word. If determining how learning takes place was that simple, why is it that there are not many geniuses (kid wonders) walking around? I mean if these theories are the key to brain functioning, a parent could wire/train their child(ren) to function according to these simple rules/steps of the theorist.
Lets take a look at education, since these theories are very beneficial in this field of study/profession. In an eduational setting, especially online, an instructor does not know the mental capabilties of his or her students. Most people can process information rapidly while others cannot. The ones who continue to display trouble cognitively are labeled (as having a learning disability); but whoever thought that maybe the teacher was not presenting the information in a way that sparks interest of the student? The instructor must adapt the lesson to the discretion of learner (by including multipleteaching strategies to meet individualized need) in order for the learning to be meaningful.
Howard Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences provides great insight on how intelligences can be measured according to the strength of the individual and not by IQs. Howard Gardner argues that the big challenge facing the deployment of human resources is how to best take advantage of the uniqueness conferred on us as a speies exhibiting several intelligences (Smith, 2008). Every individual possess different strengths and weaknesses. I possess skills and talents that my siblinings, of the same genetic background, do not. Does that mean one sibiling is smarter than the other?
Please read this blog:
September 15, 2005 What's wrong with established theories of learning?
http://connectivism.ca/blog/learning-theories/
Sources:
Kapp, K. (2007). Out and about: discussion on educational school of thoughts. Retrieved on March 26, 2010 from http://karlkapp.blogspot.com/2007/01/out-and-about-discussion-on-educational.html
Smith, M. (2008). Howard gardne, multiple intelligences and education. Retrievedon March 27, 2010 from http://www.infed.org/thinkers/gardner.htm
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I can tell that you are very passionate about this topic. Your ideas and that of the blog you advocate are similar in that you both believe that all theories hold value in the context of learning. I agree that the environment and internal perspectives create the context for learning. You mention your sibling, and no, I don't think that one is smarter than the other. However, like the information you present, it could certainly be caused by the differences in experiences and motivation.
ReplyDeleteI had a hard time believing in Piaget just because these kids are not raised the same as they were in his time. To say that children are genetically wired to learn is not a theory that I have experienced. I believe many of students do not come equipped with the necessary experiences to build networks. It all begins with us, which has slowed the processing time in my opinion.
I understand your viewpoint. We are not in the industrial revolution where everyone thought the same. Instead, we are in the most creative culture I think of all time. We can't assume anything will work with any child. We just have to observe, try, and evaluate until we find what works.
Marci
Marci
All the theories do give us something to discuss and try. The idea that a particular educational theory is superior to another to the point of dominating how teachers teach and how students learn is outdated. The idea that the teacher must appeal to every kind of learner is also unrealistic. We can try, but I wonder how often we are successful in dealing with students of multiple intelligences as well as multiple deficiencies. Finding what works is part of the challenge of teaching and where our creativity along with that observation kick in. Established theories come and they will in time go away, giving way to something new and innovative and just as temporal.
ReplyDeleteTo Marci:
ReplyDeleteI agree. Not every child develops that rapidly and at that rate. Take a premature child or a child born with a disability (fetal alcohol syndrome, etc.), their development takes a long progress.
It is up to the environment and how vitual information is presented to the child. Pre school teachers can distinguish between small children who have had proper exposure to educational material (colors, numbers, ABC's) and those who have not.
To LaVerne:
ReplyDeleteExactly. I am a special education teacher and have a had time determining appropriate accommodations and modifications to meet the needs of all my students. Although I complete the task, it takes up more time and my students still are not on the same level with the worksheets or an additional assignments.
How do you feel about ability grouping?
You are so right. Theories are not one size fit all. The great debate shouldn't be about all this theorizing about learning theories. it should be about developing effective instructional design for our students. Also, the debate should be why our students are not learning to thier highest potential.
ReplyDeleteI feel there should be a month long conference on what learning theories really work and how does technology reinforces these learning theories. I agree with Kerr, all these isms are not helping our students learn better or helping teachers teach better. What Up With All of These Isms Anyway.