The examination of human history displays the connection of learning and technology. eLearning theories provide guiderails for educators and students to express and cultivate a systematic approach to distance education in an increasingly online world. Various eLearning theories informed recent DE Practice; however; this paper thesis is supported by two: Constructivist and Online Collaborative Learning (OCL). The fundamental principles of each theory and the implications those principles have on distance education (DE) will be explored.
The Constructivist Theory
The Constructivist theory defined by Harasim (2012) denotes the assembling of ones “own understanding and knowledge of the world through experience and reflecting upon that experience” (p. 12). At the center of a learners’ educational experience is themselves. Learners erect their own knowledge by deducing and managing the information obtained. The Constructivist theory focus on promoting learning assembled, relative, and incorporated with prior knowledge and experience by the learner.
Mbati (2013) explains Constructivism four critical elements to achieve this learning paradigm:
Learners’ use of previous intelligence to obtain new intelligence.
Learners recognize the difference between their previous and new intelligence.
Learners apply their new intelligence and obtain feedback.
Learners’ reflection on information learned to ensure this intelligence is fully integrated into memory.
The Constructivist
According to Anthony & Walshaw, (2009) within a constructivist view, it is a teacher’s role to facilitate the learning of a child by providing a resource rich environment from which they guide a students learning. A student within a constructivist-learning environment must become engaged in the learning process by becoming a researcher, identifying a problem, collecting and analysing data and formulating a conclusion. This process of engagement provides a student with endless opportunity to develop his or her own understanding and knowledge. An educators ability to understand this learning theory as a process of construction and development provides a conceptual framework from which to build a teaching practice.
I am going to discuss and focus on Lee Vygotsky and his theory of Constructivism. One of Lee Vygotsky main theories was in fact constructivism; it is interesting to read about Lee Vygotsky view on constructivism as it is about how people learn and is based on a scientific study. One of the main meanings behind constructivism is “Constructivism is people who construct their own understanding and
Constructivist teaching. Muijs and Reynolds (2005) interpreted that the principles of constructivist teaching consider all learners construct knowledge for themselves, rather than absorbing knowledge directly from the teacher. This means that every pupil will learn something slightly differently from a particular lesson given. The assumption that pupils are active knowledge constructers has several consequences. For examples, the learners need to be active in order to construct knowledge or to learn effectively, teaching is about helping children construct their own meaning rather than training them to get the right answer without the actual understanding of the concept, and pupils learn best when new lessons are clearly related to what they already know,
Management of Bipolar Disorder Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder when individuals experience episodes of mania and depression. The medications used in treating bipolar disorder have been effective when properly diagnosed, but there is a risk of suicide while undergoing therapy. Treatments for bipolar disorder our on the market but they can only treat the mania or the depression, which is why the patient needs to be under supervision. When a person does not follow the prescribed course of treatment the risk of suicide increases. Another problem with bipolar disorder is that it can be misdiagnosed in teenagers in going though puberty.
Propaganda is information, especially of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote a political cause or point of view. It can be of a positive or negative nature, but its overall aim is to influence those viewing it and hopefully persuade them to share the propaganda’s creator’s point of view. When America joined the War in 1941, after remaining neutral and determined not to get involved for two years, a great amount of propaganda was produced and displayed to the American citizens. This propaganda was produced in many different forms, one of which was using American companies’ advertisements. Although this may seem unnecessary as there were many other media forms that were also used, advertisements were a very big and important form for
Constructivism is learning through experiences in our environment. Using this method we are essentially teaching ourselves through occurrences in our environment. This method of learning is demonstrated In a early childhood classroom by teachers providing guided opportunities that allow for children to explore their environment in various ways. At the end of these activities the teacher typically initiates a class discussion on the information learning through an activity. An example of an activity you may see in a classroom could be a scavenger hunt where the students find an object to match every color; this could take place inside or
The majority of adults are frightened to change the television channel while in the presence of children. Most adults are aware that when doing so, there is a great chance that a provocative scene may be on the screen at the time. These scenes should not be seen by a child. Furthermore, the reason these obscured scenes are on the television is because filmmakers are getting rich from them. Because of American popular culture, parents are worried to even allow their kids to watch television, a movie, etcetera.
The benefits of constructivism for teachers and learners, in an ideal setting include focusing on students allowing students the time and opportunity to investigate big ideas, and along the way helping them to understand concepts and skills, rather than just memorizing and regurgitating facts or ideas. Constructivism engages students’ natural curiosities to help them find answers to the questions inherent in their minds (Constructivism). Intrinsic motivation would be expected to be high when students are provided the freedom to choose their course of learning and given the time to investigate until questions are answered.
Constructivism in the classroom usually means students are engaged in activities like experiments, or real-world problem solving to increase knowledge, followed by a reflection of how their understanding of the concept has changed (Brooks, Ed.D, n.d.). Cognitivism methods of instruction are commonly integrated with the levels found in Bloom’s Taxonomy: knowledge, comprehension, application, analysis, synthesis and evaluation (Bloom, 1956). The instructor must understand the prerequisite knowledge possessed by the student, and the student is encouraged to use appropriate strategies to help make the learning meaningful.
Constructivist Learning Theory exists under the focus of cognitive learning and has substructures of the concepts of self- efficacy, self- regulation, and metacognition as it defines how adults learn (Billings & Halstead, 2012, p. 211). Billings & Halstead (2012) explains that learning is considered a transformation in a person from personal experience. It is a continued process that encompasses understanding, clarifying, and applying meanings of knowledge that is developed. The learning theory, constructivism embraces that learning is a development. A learner constructs new knowledge by building on existing information through a process
Constructivism is a coherent theory of learning that emerged as a prevailing paradigm in the last part of the twentieth century. Constructivism is a theory which brings cogitation to pedagogy (Bruner, 1966). Constructivism capitalizes on the ways in which human beings create their own personal construct of reality by understanding and experiencing the world. The main underlying assumption of constructivism is that individuals are actively involved right from the birth in constructing personal meaning.
A Developmental Perspective. Effective teaching must be planned and conducted “from the learner’s point of view”.The constructivist orientation to learning is the foundation for this perspective on teaching. From the developmental perspective, the primary goal of education or training is to develop increasingly complex and sophisticated ways of reasoning and problem solving within a content area or field of practice. (Pratt, D. D. 2002)
The purpose of a constructivist education, therefore, is to facilitate the process for learners in constructing their understanding. Constructivist learning “fosters critical thinking and creates active and motivated learners,” according to McClurg (2009). The educational emphasis is not on delivering knowledge nor organizing that knowledge in a prescriptive system, but rather on teaching students how to build their own understanding within meaningful contexts for lasting effect (Learning Theories Knowledgebase, 2012).
Distance learning (education) has become an integral part of the education process over the past few decades and is growing in popularity as technology advances.(Willis 1992) describes distance education (as) "the organizational framework andprocess of providing instruction at a distance. Distance education takes place when ateacher and student(s) are physically separated, and technology…(is) used to bridge theinstruction gap." (Coutts 1996). Furthermore, "distance learning activities are designedto fit the specific context for learning, the nature of the subject matter; intended learningoutcomes, needs and goals of the learner, the learner's environment and the instructional echnologies and methods." (American
Constructivism is the theory that humans construct knowledge and meaning from their experiences. This idea that people learn from experience and not just from hearing lectures was revolutionary and gave birth to the experimental learning approach that is more powerful than lectures and worksheets. By directing their own learning processes, students understand concepts better. In essence constructivism is the theory of how we learn.