- Ernesto Villasenor
- Compton, CA
- United States
Research and Policy Intern , LA County Education Foundation (LACEF)
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Constructivist Learning and Teaching: A possible way of addressing education disparities?
Constructivist learning and teaching imply the notion and suggest that learning is most effective when the individual is actively engaged in the learning process rather than being in a passive environment, the latter being the case in most learning environments.
There has been a surge in the US in terms of implementing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education initiatives, with the primary focus of preparing our students for the future's economic and societal developments, which will revolve primarily around science and technology.
As an individual that has acquired much information and experience within the STEM fields through the accessibility of programs that encourage constructivist learning and teaching methods, do you believe that such methods of learning could reduce education disparities throughout the entire board, specifically focusing on the K-12 public education?
Robert Winner 50+
The fight you are facing includes book publishers, test developers, federal and state intervention, and the nestmakers at the top of education. Of these the book publishers are the most powerful and decide the direction of the educational process ... all others follow that lead. The most damaging are the federal and state intervention.
The idea that everyone is going to college must go. Schools need to address the needs of those not going to college also. The simple solution would be to devise a two curriculum system 1) College Prep and 2) Manual trades. College prep is self explainatory. Manual Trades would include auto, woods, metal, nursing, heavy equipment, power plant management, beauty school, etc ... The first half of the day would be dedicated to core subjects and the second half to the curriculum of choice.
I endorse the competent / non-competent system where a course map is developed and presented in modules allowing kids to develop at their speed while staying with their peer group for social development.
The whole system requires evaluation. We need to stop putting on bandades and address change. The need exists to apply 21st century technology to 21st century needs.
Sec of Ed Arne Duncan wants the feds to have full control of education. That would be the single most destructive blow to education. We need the feds out ... not in control. Out of space.
All the best. Bob.
Gail . 50+
Ken Robinson notes that we cannot prepare students for the global economy to come. What he doesn't say (because he speaks of education) is that the economy to come will not be like the one we have now - the one that is failing quickly because of growing population combined with growing automation leading to the elimination of consumers that now sustain the economy. Combine the corrupt economic model that was instituted by the few to create a "race of laborers" (slaves) with the growing number of people who are aware of what has happened to them, and the future will be very different indeed, and the STEMs that you mention may be far less important for most, than how to can vegetables.
Ernesto Villasenor
The way the country is moving in education, focusing on the STEM fields and the heavily tech-influenced economy creates for an education industrial complex within both K-12 education and at times, higher education.
The thing that is not taught in school, something that is crucial, is the following: if you pursue your passions in education and through a career, money will not be an issue.
Mitch SMith 50+
Add to that the efforts of the plutocracy to keep the sheep on the farm and the task begins to look daunting.
The benefits need to be demonstrated clearly and personally.
De-specialisation is a thing that few can trust whilever the myth of time-scarcity is accepted as fact.
All that was missing from previous agrarian and hunter/gatherer models was ubiquitous communication.
In both these models, there was an abundance of surplus time in which individuals could follow passions and accomplish mastery - but word-of-mouth was the only method to capture the value generated by these passions.
If network infrastructure can be preserved through a collapse or transition, we then face a quandry - the internet is becoming our repository of human knowledge and value - we need only google to know almost anything at all, our brains no longer need to retain these things but what is mising is the means of further acquisition - if you can google it, you do not need to develop the skills to generate it. This needs to be addressed. The alternative is the tragedy of the LIbrary of Alexandria. THis is important.
Gail . 50+
Of course, they weren't overpopulated like we are, but they did choose to come together and take the risk of declaring peace, and it worked very well. They had a representative government, but it was limited in its areas of governance (as the USA government is supposed to be, but is no longer since the Supreme Court threw out the constitution as the law of the land.)
I too worry that there could be a 2nd destruction of the knowledge of humankind. It IS important to preserve the knowledge repository. But I disagree that googling inhibits the "desire" to develop skills.; For me, it inspires. I've learned more in the last 5-10 years than I learned in the entirety of my "education".
Mitch SMith 50+
If you gain a comprehensive knowledge of them, do you intend to record that knowledge on wikipedia?
And for the sake of the topic - do you know anything of their mode of education?
Scott Armstrong 50+
the great problem with models and theories is that they need to be applied in combination with other models and theories.
there is no one single-theory magic-bullet answer.
Ernesto Villasenor
There has to be a balance of numerous systems that could address numerous subjects and learning behaviors, as not all individuals comprehend things in the same way.
Fritzie Reisner 100+
Ernesto Villasenor
Constructivist learning works best for the more hands-on subjects (science and math are great examples), but might not necessarily function accordingly in other subjects.
One of the main arguments that I am trying to make is that basing an entire education system on passive learning is definitely not the best and efficient way in terms of preparing our students for a future that we ourselves cannot predict.
Fritzie Reisner 100+
I am curious about this, as the big school districts with which I am familiar all have an inquiry focus for math and science. I know there has been a conservative backlash demanding a return to the traditional direct instruction or lecture, whether delivered by humans or video.
Ernesto Villasenor
Even if you implement and redefine the way education is taught in the inner city and in especially large school districts, one of the factors that still come about our way is the content standards that the schools have to abide to at the state level. Content standards provide a sense of direction in terms of teaching the necessities, but when it comes to solely basing our education on content standards where the students are going to get tested on.....that's a different issue and pickle to deal with.
Anyhow, coming back on to the flaws of direct instruction: direct instruction can function for various subjects, such as history and English, but others require a more hands-on, experience-filled methods.
Fritzie Reisner 100+