Constructivist/Constructionist Learning Theories

WOW!, we have come a long way in educational theories. During my experience over the past 11 years I have seen many theories and strategies for learning come and go. It seems to me that the educational guru's are always trying to reinvent the wheel. I know that must sound negative but, I feel that these theories and I must state again "theories" are just that. The leaders in education use these theories time and time again, over and over but with a different twist each time. Now with technology becoming a demand in education, governments, districts, administrators find themselves jumping on the band wagon. I am all in favor of the implementation of technology in my classroom, but until they allow everyone with same opportunity and funding it is going to be impossible.

Constructionist learning is a theory I have been using for quite a while. This theory allows for freedom in the learning environment without restriction. It allows students to build upon prior and future knowledge and an avenue to which they can express what they know and have learned. I teach at an At-Risk high school. My students have a chip on their shoulders about education and they come to us primarily with a bad attitude. Our staff is always looking for new ways to present our curriculum to our students and strategies that our kids will be successful at. In my school we have very limited access to computers. Our lab has 15 working stations which is divided by 8 staff members with an average of 25 students per class. Other than our staff computers this does not leave us much time to create lessons that involve the use of technology. In a perfect world though, I am all in favor having a technology based curriculum and have a variety ways for each of my subjects I could use these theories in.

One idea I had would be for my students in my advanced physical education class that is primarily weightlifting and conditioning to incorporate technology via a spread sheet for their fitness journals. After a period of time I would have them chart their results and have them form a hypotheses of what their results will be by the end of the course. They could accumulate their data and make projections and formulate a conclusion for their final project. Students could also research diets, supplements and other physical fitness strategies or exercises to improve their own fitness. I already am using something similar, but not with the assistance of technology. I agree this would give my students a much easier and exciting way, plus it would give a break from gym.

Cognitivism in practice

In cognitive learning, the individual learns by listening, watching, touching, reading, or experiencing and then by processing and remembering the information. When using a virtual field trip or a concept map together a cognitive learner may seem to be passive but, the student is actually quite active. Throughout the trip and mapping, the students are processing and remembering new incoming information without the pressures of a normal classroom environment. The students entire experience ignites the cognitive learning which enables the student to create and format data that may include symbols, values, beliefs and norms. Because cognitive learning involves many aspects of human behavior by taking a virtual trip it will allow them the opportunity to explore and spark their senses in an outside environment. This correlation between these two strategies and cognitive learning should promote a positive and formidable learning experience.

Behaviorism in the classroom

I would have to agree with Dr. Orey on his perspective of behaviorism in our classrooms and with use of technology. He made some valid points about how operant conditioning still is going on within the learning environment, even though psychologist has deemed it a dead issue. I was thinking on the ways that I use operant conditioning and recently our school has developed a privilege list for those students who carry C's in all their classes, have perfect attendance and have not had a behavior write up. These students who achieve this are rewarded with certain privileges for example, access to the break room, mp3 players during non-instructional time, computer lab passes and cell phone usage at lunch. Our school itself has an established a behavioral atmosphere that students are conditioned to follow if they want a positive reward.

To continue with the discussion, I know in my classroom I find that I use behaviorism in my lessons on a daily basis. As I give out instructional assignments for example a worksheet on why the Roman Empire fell, the students may not receive the next worksheet about the Byzantine Empire until they have 75% or better. Students are allowed to re-submit their work until this grade is achieved. Now I do not do this for all assignments but, if I feel that the information is an important part of the section that's when I use this type of conditioning. For those students who do get the a 75% or higher in the first try they are rewarded verbally and their names immediately are posted on the board. I use these types of experience like a game show. It can be very exciting at times and the students encourage those who do not make it the first time. It becomes one big peer tutoring lesson and those kids strive hard to get their names announced and posted on the board.

As far as technology goes, Dr. Orey "hit the nail right on the head' when he talks about using mechanism like tutorial videos, text, or animation to condition students when they are using technology. Again, our district is introducing a new credit recovery system that clearly demonstrates this type of higher learning through technology. This on-line learning experience is a classic case of behaviorism. Students in order to move on to the next section of the course will only be rewarded if they pass that section. These students will be led through a series of tutorials and then will be conditioned by passing at an acceptable rate in order to continue through to the next section. Of course there will be some negative responses to the stimulus if they do not reach the accepted level to move on, but hopefully this will motivate them to try harder to reach the next positive reward.

I personally love the idea of using technology as way to condition students in a positive manner. I have used web-quests that I have designed or have borrowed from other instructors. In world history web-quest are a very positive tool not only for learning the material but to give students a positive experience with technology. I usually turn them into a light hearted competition and the students are put into cooperative teams. Each students is given a particular role so they have ownership with their teams. I have also used time lines and concept maps in a similar fashion. Each have there place throughout my history classes and it is a good break from the usu all routine.