DISCUSSION#04

[Sir Lloyd]

Lesson No. 6 - IT Enters a New Learning Environment

1. Do the new learning theories mean we should stop memorization and drill activities in class? Why?

2. There are official truths/principles in such disciplines as Ethics, Chemistry, Physics, History, etc. Do you think Constructivism really want to abandon universal truths/principles? (Clue: some beliefs result from faulty information, ancient/unscientific traditions.  Primitive people believe the world was flat.  Can you cite other examples of untruthful beliefs?)

3. Can personal discoveries contradict socially/culturally accepted principles or values?  (Clue: revolutions are caused by those in power like despots unwilling to change their ways.  What did Jose Rizal and other patriots discover about colonization of the Philippine islands, for example?)

[maricor amores]

1.  Based on the principles of constructivism, it could be yes if the traditional learning environment gives stress to vote learning& simple memorization, meaningful learning gives focus to new experience that is related to what the learner already knows. The learner builds personal understanding through appropriate learning activities. However, memorization & drill activities are also related in teaching & learning strategies. In such a way that teachers have different learning strategies/techniques in classroom situation. Probably, memorization is usually involves in performing declamation, oration, monologue, speech, & others. This kind of presentation are usually required for memorization. Drill activities is also a part of teaching & learning strategies especially to the young learners. As a young learners, they might have some difficulty in understanding or to grasp the lessons easily.However, they need some drill activities to arouse their interest & feelings about a certain topic. So, teachers needed to have some drill activities in order for them to understand & follow easily. Both memorization & drill activities are needed in teaching learning strategy.

2. Based on the principles of constructivism, the purpose of education is the acquisition of practical & personal knowledge, not abstract or universal truths. In other words, they don't depend on ideas or concepts nor physical referents. The teachers plays an indirect role by modeling effective learning, facilitating since the learners already have some knowledge that is relevant to new learning. Meaning to say, the learners have already  absurd stock knowledge which is coming from their previous lessons or classes. Other examples of untruthful belief " Bad faith discharges revisited "

3. Well for me, it could be yes or no, it is a matter of how the human themselves discover their own self discovery/personal discovery of their own. People who have a higher level of personal satisfaction in their lives also have a greater level of truly knowing & understanding themselves. In other words, they could also socialize other environment through self discovery learning.In the Philippine Islands the American Government has tried, and is trying to carry out exactly what the greatest & most renewed patriot ever known in the Phil. such as liberalizing hereditary influences.

[Rossana Bella Palitones]

1. When we talk of new learning theories, we are talking about constructivism.
    Constructivism means Learning is a search for meaning. Therefore, learning must start with the issues around which students are actively trying to construct meaning.
    Constructivism calls for the elimination of a standardized curriculum. Instead, it promotes using curricula customized to the students’ prior knowledge. Also, it emphasizes hands-on problem solving.Under this theory, educators focus on making connections between facts and fostering new understanding in students. Instructors tailor their teaching strategies to student responses and encourage students to analyze, interpret, and predict information. Teachers also rely heavily on open-ended questions and promote extensive dialogue among students.(www.funderstanding.com)
     In my opinion, my answer to the question is yes. The new learning theories mean memorization and drill activities in class is no longer applicable because it emphasizes hands-on problem solving, the students will be the one to construct their own meaning. It is a learning that,by reflecting on our experiences, we construct our own understanding. But for me as a student memorization and drill activities is still applicable like for example in math and physics subjects, we cannot avoid memorization because we have to memorize the formula. And drill activities is a good way to practice structures which are generally new to students, the more drill activities the teacher gives the more the student understands.
2. I dont think constructivism wants to abandon universal truths/principles. It's just that it is a learning where an individual is encouraged to make his own discovery. Since it is a learning which focuses on hands on problem solving.example of untruthful beliefs Don't sweep at night or you'll have fewer blessings.
3. For me yes, because as individual we have different understanding of different happenings or things around us so if our discovery is different from others and we want it to be followed by others then it would contradict to their beliefs. 

Read more: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_are_some_examples_of_superstitious_beliefs#ixzz15UIQEcRp

On Wed, May 4, 2011 at 9:37 AM, Sir Lloyd <lrdi...@gmail.com> wrote:

[melissa larena]

1.A learning theory is an attempt to describe how people and animals
learn, thereby helping us understand the inherently complex process of
learning. Learning theories have two chief values. One is in providing
us with vocabulary and a conceptual framework for interpreting the
examples of learning that we observe. The other is in suggesting where
to look for solutions to practical problems. The theories do not give
us solutions, but they do direct our attention to those variables that
are crucial in finding solutions.There are three main categories or
philosophical frameworks under which learning theories fall:
behaviorism, cognitive, and constructivism. Behaviorism focuses only
on the objectively observable aspects of learning. Cognitive theories
look beyond behavior to explain brain-based learning. And
constructivism views learning as a process in which the learner
actively constructs or builds new ideas or concepts.

2.Constructivism views learning as a process in which the learner
actively constructs or builds new ideas or concepts based upon current
and past knowledge or experience. In other words, "learning involves
constructing one's own knowledge from one's own experiences."
Constructivist learning, therefore, is a very personal endeavor,
whereby internalized concepts, rules, and general principles may
consequently be applied in a practical real-world context. This is
also known as social constructivism (see social constructivism).
Social constructivist posit that knowledge is constructed when
individuals engage socially in talk and activity about shared problems
or tasks. Learning is seen as the process by which individuals are
introduced to a culture by more skilled members.Constructivism itself
has many variations, such as Active learning, discovery learning, and
knowledge building. Regardless of the variety, constructivism promotes
a student's free exploration within a given framework or
structure.]The teacher acts as a facilitator who encourages students
to discover principles for themselves and to construct knowledge by
working to solve realistic problems. Aspects of constructivism can be
found in self-directed learning, transformational learning,
experiential learning, situated cognition, and reflective practice and
religious practice.

3.For me yes because we have different personality.