After reading chapter three I have acquired a better understanding of constructivism. Teachers address questions to students so that they can recall previous knowledge. Then students add the new information and organize it to construct new knowledge.
I agree with the text book that in a traditional classroom teachers base their lessons on memory and recall. My experience in elementary school was that of a traditional classroom. I was expected to memorize the terminology and recall information from the book. I would study for the test but a week after the test the information was forgotten because it was just memorization. This new way of understanding science by hand-on activities makes it easier for student to understand the concept of the activities they do in a cooperative learning environment.
I agree with Vygotsky that students can learn at higher levels in cooperation with others than working alone. I think it is more work for the teacher at the beginning when she first implements a community of learners. Once the entire class understands the process of community of learners it will run smoothly. I believe the most difficult part is getting everything in place. Once students are familiar with the process they will benefit from this learning environment.
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Traditional classroom instruction, as you point out, focused primarily on the memorization of facts. But facts soon learned could be soon forgotten. What was missing was an emphasis on learning how to think.
ReplyDeleteGranted, students come to our classrooms already thinking. But do they think well? Do they think correctly? As teachers, we have a unique opportunity to challenge students' minds. The inquiry approach to teaching science is well suited to this.
And Vygotsky reminds us that learning does not happen in a vaccuum. There is a social dimension to learning as well.
Getting everything in place is a big part of this. You have to plan. You have time and materials. Is getting everything in place the hardest part? It may be the most time consuming part. But it gets easier in time.
Sometimes the hardest part is not knowing the extent to which your efforts are paying off for kids.