Introduction
In this assignment I will identify a challenge I have found in my teaching in relation to student learning and I will discuss it in light of cognitive learning theory and more specifically constructivism.
Teaching Challenge
I am a child and adolescent mental health nurse and I was teaching student nurses about the range of risk factors associated with the development of childhood mental health difficulties. While teaching, I came across a challenge to the teaching process in that students appeared to have fixed /preconceived beliefs regarding the subject matter and they were reluctant to engage in discussing these views in the group forum. Mental health nurses must work in a number of areas where there is often lack of clarity
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All individuals process and interpret information differently based on individual learning styles, backgrounds and past experiences. No two people learn in the exact same way (Braedyn 2009). The main categories under which learning theories fall are cognitivism, behaviourism, social learning and humanistic. I have chosen cognitive approaches and specifically the concept of constructivism to discuss for the purpose of this assignment. Cognitive learning is an active process which involves perceiving information, interpreting it based on what is already known, and then reorganizing the information into new knowledge or understanding (Bastable 2008). Constructivism is a branch of Cognitivism. Jonassen (1991) highlights the difference between these learning theories by describing cognitive psychologists as thinking of the mind as a reference tool to the real world and constructivists believing that the mind filters input from the world to develop its own …show more content…
Active engagement in learning can lead to increased understanding, and practical use of knowledge. Therefore, engaging students in discovery processes allows them to form deeper understanding. Philips (1995) identifies three roles in constructivism known as the active learner, the social learner and the creative learner. Constructivism generally advises that learners be in an active role, instead of solely reading, listening and working through routine exercises, they discuss, debate, hypothesize, investigate and take different stances. The social learner highlights that knowledge and understanding are constructed in dialogue with others and not individually. The creative learner advises that people need to create or recreate knowledge for themselves (Perkins
Social cognitive theory of learning is a theoretical perspective that focuses on learning by observing others and eventually assuming control over one’s own behavior (Ormrod, 2011, p.323). Social cognitive theory is a perspective that helps us understand about learning by observing other people doing the same thing. This theory is a blend of behaviorism and cognitive psychology (Ormrod, 2011). Behaviorism theory relates to learning as a stimulus- response relationship and suggests that learning involves a behavior change whereas according to social cognitive theory learning is an internal process that may or may not lead to a behavior change. For example one might attempt to ride a bicycle as soon as they learn to ride the bicycle but learning how to put air in the bike may not be needed until the bicycle need air.
This approach emphasizes the student's prior knowledge. The strategy demonstrates the theory of constructivism, because the constructivist pedagogy proposes that new knowledge is constructed from old. It holds the educational belief that as teachers, it's essential that we make connections between what new is being presented with students' prior experiences.
If you are a parent or plan to be a parent, Do you want your child to sit in a desk all day while the teacher lectures them on information that they need to know for life or would you rather have your child learn constructively? Constructivism has been labeled as the philosophy of learning that proposes learners need to build their own understanding of new ideas (Constructivism and the Five E?s,2001). Learning something new, or attempting to understand something familiar in greater depth, is not a linear process. The purpose of this research paper is to explain the theoretical foundations of the constructivist approach to teaching and learning, and to provide concrete examples to show the effectiveness of the constructivist approach with respect to student learning.
Constructivism is a theory of learning that emphasizes the active construction of knowledge by individuals.
Powell, K. Kalina, C. (2009). Cognitive and Social Constructivism: Developing Tools for an Effective Classroom. Education, 130(2), 241-250. Retrieved from http://proquest.umi.com.dbgw.lis.curtin.edu.au/pqdweb?did=1937522441&Fmt=7&clientId=22212&RQT=309&VName=PQD. (Document ID: 1937522441).
A. Behaviorism, constructivism and cognitivism are relatively common theories used in the classroom as ways to approach student learning. Behaviorism focuses on observable behavior, such as students answering questions correctly, or being able to follow directions to complete a task as instructed. Characteristics of a classroom that uses behaviorism might be memorization of facts, writing vocabulary words, or a token reward system to inspire the desired behavior and decrease undesired behaviors. Constructivism, as indicated by the root word “construct,” focuses on the construction of new ideas, or expanding on what is already known. Students in a classroom using constructivism as a means for learning might seem more actively engaged in the learning process; they often learn something new through applying what they already know about the content area, and exploring new matter to further their understanding. This type of classroom often uses hands on manipulatives to allow students to actually build, create, or experiment with what they are learning. A cognitivism approach to learning might be explained by the minds capacity to process information – such as how a learner might remember something, retrieve information, or store new concepts. Learning through this method often depends on how the student processes what the teacher is presenting. Classrooms using this approach might incorporate learning strategies that help students categorize and sequence information to assist with processing. Like constructivism, it can be an active style of learning.
Brooks, J. G., Brooks, M. G. (1999). In Search of Understanding: The Case of Constructivist Classrooms, with a new introduction by the authors. Retrieved from http://site.ebrary.com/lib/ashford/Doc?id=10078162&ppg=28
Powell, Katherine C, Kalina, Cody J “Cognitive and social constructivism: Developing tools for an effective classroom” Education, Winter2009, Vol. 130 Issue 2, p241-250, 10p
Key ideas of Constructivist Theory: According to Drewery and Claiborne (2014), Piaget held that an individual learner had agency in learning and developing, who actively constructed his/her own knowledge out of the need of adaption to the immediate environment for survival. In Piaget's view, children's cognitive development comes from both biological growth (e.g. brain development) and the response to the stimulation from their environment. Children's cognition goes through four discontinuous stages and the ultimate cognitive ability is logically abstract thinking. These stages are universal, which can apply to all children over the world no matter what culture or place they live in.
Teachers continually learn about ways people learn – the processes of learning and how individuals learn best. They learn about their students and individuals, and learn with as well as from their students when they seek knowledge together. (Principles of effective learning and teaching, 1994). Through continually discovering new and exciting ways to help mould a constructivist classroom, the students will be able to achieve their outcomes with great ease and learn to enjoy education.
Lutz, S., & Huitt, W. (2004). Connecting cognitive development and constructivism: Implications from theory for instruction and assessment. Constructivism in the Human Sciences, 9(1), 67-90. Retreived from: http://www.teach.valdosta.edu/whuitt/brilstar/chapters/cogdev.doc
There are methods that are considered very different than constructivism that are used in the classroom. One of the approaches is the traditional approach where the teacher teaches the information to the student, and the student does not contribute as much or convey the prior knowledge of the material during instruction (Airasian & Walsh, 1997). It has been said that traditional teaching can segregate students, especially ones with special needs, in the classroom (Bloom; Perlmutter& Burrell, 1999). In other words, traditional instruction is a more teacher-centered approach that uses rote, fact based learning. The teachers create the values, behaviors, and beliefs for the students. The teacher is in charge of the classroom, where they have rewards and consequences, and the students work mostly by themselves (this is very different that the constructivist classroom, which will be explained) (Windschitl, 1999).
Pro: By using a constructivist approach to teaching, students will be “fully engaged in their own learning” (Rhinehart Neas). This allows the students to make sense of what they are doing by relating it to the real world and where they could use the information in their future.
Among many teaching styles and learning theories, there is one that is becoming more popular, the constructivist theory. The constructivist theory focuses on the way a person learns, a constructivist believes that the person will learn better when he/she is actively engaged. The person acts or views objects and events in their environment, in the process, this person then understands and learns from the object or events(P. Johnson, 2004). When we encounter a certain experience in our life, we think back to other things that have occurred in our life and use that to tackle this experience. In a lot of cases, we are creators of our own knowledge. In a classroom, the constructivist theory encourages more hands-on assignments or real-world situations, such as, experiments in science and math real-world problem solving. A constructivist teacher constantly checks up on the student, asking them to reflect what they are learning from this activity. The teacher should be keeping track on how they approached similar situations and help them build on that. The students can actually learning how to learn in a well-planned classroom. Many people look at this learning style as a spiral, the student is constantly learning from each new experience and their ideas become more complex and develop stronger abilities to integrate this information(P. Johnson, 2004). An example of a constructivist classroom would be, the student is in science class and everyone is asking questions, although the teacher knows the answer, instead of just giving it to them, she attempts to get the students to think through their knowledge and try to come up with a logical answer. A problem with this method of learning is that people believe that it is excusing the role of...
One hundred years ago, Jean Piaget (1896-1980) was a young man developing new insights about learning. He was one of a handful of constructivist-minded writers and educational theorists of the time. Learning theories open educators up to new ideas. They are necessary to expand our knowledge of how learning works. Piaget’s work is a well-tested and educators around the world should be aware of Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive development in particular because it will improve the quality of their teaching. Once a teacher knows this theory, they can plan lessons appropriate to their students’ cognitive ability and build upon students’ earlier knowledge in a constructivist way.