Friday, January 21, 2005
Week 3
For this week’s lesson, we have learnt about something more theoretical: the six element model of constructivist learning approaches – Situation, Groupings, Bridge, Questions, Exhibit and Reflections. The model represents the onset of education based on cognitive knowledge construction whereby students build new knowledge based on their past experience and interaction with the environment. In addition, the design loop is introduced to us to facilitate the designing of a lesson for the students.
Essentially, I feel that the education should incorporate the awareness of the ever changing paradigm in reality -- a lot of phenomenon do not have a single solution. Different perspectives towards a particular issue can sharpen thinking and looking at matters with different angles. The constructivist approach thus serves this purpose of illustrating the imperfect world outside there to the students. Hence, it is pragmatic in using this approach in classroom teaching. Moreover, the emphasis on student-centred learning and the vision of Thinking Schools, Learning Nation highlighted the importance of adopting the constructivist approach in teaching and learning. In short, the vision that students are to assume a great role in their own learning is in line with the constructivist approach of learners being active learners –constructing their own knowledge-- with the teachers being facilitators. The role of the facilitators cannot be overemphasized. Students might be wrong when searching for answers in the world of knowledge. During the exhibition and reflection phase of learning, teachers must be alert and knowledgable enough to eliminate any deviation and error-- before they propagate-- in learning of a concept.
Basically, for the design loop, it is a useful guideline which focuses on the resources available, environment factor and objectives to produce a good lesson. However, I feel that the constraints should be analyzed after the conceptualizing of an idea. The placement of the constraints at the very last, will results in the tools and methods being formulated. As such, it might be difficult for us to make major adjustments to the strategy for fear of a tight deadline.
On the whole, the constructivist approach in teaching does fit well in the 'teach less, learn more' education paradigm.
Essentially, I feel that the education should incorporate the awareness of the ever changing paradigm in reality -- a lot of phenomenon do not have a single solution. Different perspectives towards a particular issue can sharpen thinking and looking at matters with different angles. The constructivist approach thus serves this purpose of illustrating the imperfect world outside there to the students. Hence, it is pragmatic in using this approach in classroom teaching. Moreover, the emphasis on student-centred learning and the vision of Thinking Schools, Learning Nation highlighted the importance of adopting the constructivist approach in teaching and learning. In short, the vision that students are to assume a great role in their own learning is in line with the constructivist approach of learners being active learners –constructing their own knowledge-- with the teachers being facilitators. The role of the facilitators cannot be overemphasized. Students might be wrong when searching for answers in the world of knowledge. During the exhibition and reflection phase of learning, teachers must be alert and knowledgable enough to eliminate any deviation and error-- before they propagate-- in learning of a concept.
Basically, for the design loop, it is a useful guideline which focuses on the resources available, environment factor and objectives to produce a good lesson. However, I feel that the constraints should be analyzed after the conceptualizing of an idea. The placement of the constraints at the very last, will results in the tools and methods being formulated. As such, it might be difficult for us to make major adjustments to the strategy for fear of a tight deadline.
On the whole, the constructivist approach in teaching does fit well in the 'teach less, learn more' education paradigm.
# posted by keithsong @ 8:41 PM 
