Introduction
Figure out how to use webquest in order to learn about various learning theorists, and in turn formulate my own believe statment on teaching at the junior level.
Task
For this task, you must read the material provided on the various learning theorists and their respected divisions. Find one theorist in particular that resonates with you, and form a believe statement based on his/her theories and that you agree with, and find most in line with your own beliefs in regards to teaching at the junior level.
Process
Use the webstes provided for research, as well as find some web resourses of your own to research learning theorists. Once you have gained an understanding of the different theories, develop a believe statement of your own.
Websites include:
http://infed.org/mobi/learning-theory-models-product-and-process/
http://www.simplypsychology.org/
http://webpages.charter.net/schmolze1/vygotsky/johnsteiner.html
Evaluation
Points/Notes to remember: * = my own thoughts
Saljo's 5 main categories:
1) Learning as a quantitative increase in knowledge. Learning is acquiring information or ‘knowing a lot.
2) Learning as memorising. Learning is storing information that can be reproduced.
3) Learning as acquiring facts, skills, and methods that can be retained and used as necessary.
(*from this point, learning is very do something get something approach. Not quite the "understanding" or "discovering" point yet. I like the idea of equating these approaches with shopping - go out, buy knowledge, know something. I think it is a useful appoach to understand maybe early ways of thinking. AKA the junior learners, beginning how to learn*)
4) Learning as making sense or abstracting meaning. Learning involves relating parts of the subject matter to each other and to the real world.
5)Learning as interpreting and understanding reality in a different way. Learning involves comprehending the world by reinterpreting knowledge. (quoted in Ramsden 1992: 26)
Piaget's theories
*focuses more on basic development, rather than the aspect of learning something*
Stages of Development:
sensorimotor,
preoperational,
concrete operational,
formal operational.
Schemas - 'a cohesive, repeatable action sequence possessing component actions that are tightly interconnected and governed by a core meaning'.
(*would be an interesting tool for figuring out where students are cognitively and using it to differentiate your learning.)
Script - type of schema regarded a stored form of a pattern of behavior (restaurant example), using prior knowledge, and applying it to a situation.
Piaget had a more universal stages approach to include all infants alike.
(*Piaget used adaption as a term to learning from the environment - again referring to the idea of having previous expderince from something and using it to a present situation. Very important in regards to learning as we try to engage students to use what they already know and apply it to something new they are trying to learn.*)
Vygotsky's theories:
Unlike Piaget's notion that childrens' development must necessarily precede their learning, Vygotsky argued, "learning is a necessary and universal aspect of the process of developing culturally organized, specifically human psychological function" (1978, p. 90). In other words, social learning tends to precede (i.e. come before) development.
(*Would be interested to use the previously stated schemas and compare the development to the learning of a student. Maybe the student could learn something and then further develop from that.*)
"nature vs nurture"
Diifers from Piaget in the sense that not all of us are the same, or grow within the same stages, and in turn develop the same. People differ based on the nature that they were raised. Their experiences around them shape their developmental growth, rather than clear-cut stages.
Vygotsky also placed more importance on social interaction affecting development of a person.
(*This is important as the junior learning is coming of age and interacting more with their fellow students. I think it is at this age that parents give their kids more independence to go out and play with friends, which in turn leads to more socialable children. This means that social development could possibly have an effect on the learner.*)
Conclusion
My belief statement
I belive that at the age of the junior learner, they are being influened by multiple factors that could all affect their cognitive ability.
I think that I can relate more to the stylings of Vygotsky in reagards of the nature vs nurture idea. During the junior learner stage, students are all learning at a different, individual, rate. Not all students can be classified into universal stages of cognitive development and therefore be taught as such. Differentiated learning is a crucial aspect of the junior learner.
Students at the junior age level are just started to really learn how they learn so to speak. I believe that it is important to address the different learning styles and try to make our lesson plans fit to a veriety of those styles. Students are developing their habits based on the environment and experiences surrounding them. These students are also beginning to have more social interactions with each other which will further their cognitive development in my opinion.
I believe that students at the junior age all learn differently, and it is the role of the teacher to differentiate their lesson plans to meet the needs of the students.