EDUC 7105~ Module 2
When discussing learning theory, Bill Kerr (2007) poses the question, “Should we stick to the –isms (constructivism, behaviorism, connectivism) or be more pragmatic and ‘cherry pick’ different useful ideas from the various theories?” In reflecting on my own teaching strategies, I feel that I do ‘cherry pick’ ideas from various theories. I feel that each student is different in how he/she connects to new content; therefore instructors must be flexible in order to meet the needs of all students. When working with students who are behavior challenged, I often use a reward system, offering small rewards for meeting small goals and larger rewards for meeting larger goals. This act fits with the behaviorism theory, teaching these students that when they perform a specific behavior, they are rewarded. An example of approaching education with cognitivism theory is giving my students learning style assessments then using that information to work with students in small groups and to assign various tasks to show proof of content mastery, allowing students to choose the task which best suits him/her.
Kapp (2007) seems to agree with this approach, stating “learning” is not one thing…it is a multi-layered word that tends to get treated as if it were just one thing…and it’s not. It is multi-facetted and that is why developing new models for “learning” is so difficult…there are too many levels for one school of thought or one model to do it all.
Kerr, B. (2007, January 1). _isms as filter, not blinker [Web log post]. Retrieved from
http://billkerr2.blogspot.com/2007/01/isms-as-filter-not-blinker.html
Kapp, K. (2007, January 2). Out and about: Discussion on educational schools of thought [Web log post]. Retrieved from http://www.kaplaneduneering.com/kappnotes/index.php/2007/01/out-and-about-discussion-on-educational/
Hi Jennifer,
ReplyDeleteI also agree with Kerr and Kapp. Educators should expose their learners to many learning theories in order to meet their students’ instructional needs. How do you group students when they are working in small groups? Are students in groups according to similar or different learning styles? Do you have the groups work towards answering higher-order questions?
Vaughn
Jennifer,
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, that as educators many of us do "cherry pick" from the various theories. We do this so that we can meet our learners needs the best that we can. Differentiating instruction and rewarding wanted behaviors are two different strategies that I use daily in my classroom.