Debate on Educational Constructivist Approach: Windschitl V.S. Hirsch

Katie Finley

Journal 3

PART ONE

While reading the Windschitl & Hirsch articles, I felt both informed and interested on the different positions on the main question. The main question asks about if schools should have their own educational constructivist approach. The article written by Windschitl agrees having an educational constructivist approach, while Hirsch on the other hand disagrees. Each other others did a wonderful job on elaborating their positions on the point, and provided excellent examples, and great detail. Each of these articles exhibited both similarities and differences regarding the main question.

One of the similarities, which both Windschitl and Hirsch share is about there are challenges that exist in an educational

One reason that I believe they are is, because they have two very different views on the question. I believe the only major similarity they have is they recognize and mention the negative aspects of both this approach and the previous ones. Winschitl does elaborate more on the expectations on how the positives of this approach will help student’s teacher centered/ fact based thinking, but holds a such a crucial part in developing students actual thinking and processing of information. Hirsch dwells on how he disagrees with this point of Windschitl’s, because he fails to recognizes the research regarding this approach. These two hold such contrasting opinions on this question. They both make a case on the points very well, but they hold fewer similarities on the question at

This reading reminded me about how Vygotsky’s theory is mostly based on the interactions and influences help children to learn. I really do believe this theory is very accurate, because students can learn from each other. If a teacher is having trouble explaining a complex topic to a student, another student can explain it in more relatable way. Also, I was fascinated when I read about what cultural tools, were and how they related to Vygotsky’s beliefs. Learning about what cultural tools were, helped me to broaden my understanding of how crucial cultural tools are to student’s learning process. Also, the chapter did a great job of elaborating on how these tools can help to advance and grow in the understanding of student’s thinking process. Another aspect of this reading that interested me was the elaboration on private speech and the Zone of Proximal Development. Each of the definitions displayed help me to advance my own thinking on what it was and how it is used in regards to the education of students. The description of what private speech and how it is basically the inner narration of their thinking process helped me to understand how this aspect can help with students learning. Also, the Zone of Proximal Development helped me to make a connection to both what is and how it relates to private speech as well. The Zone of proximal development plays a crucial role in the