For this blog post, I am not going to focus on chapter 9 because that chapter was really focused on in my concept map, quizzes, and online discussions.
In chapter 10, I really appreciated the emphasis on student ownership of learning through the constructivist views of learning. I think that having student choice and input throughout the learning process really helps students to find meaning behind their education and learn material better and retain it longer. I also liked how the chapter described the constructivist perspective being applied in education. By applying this type of learning through problem-based learning, students find real solutions to real-life problems and I believe this helps them apply what they have learned to their real lives. Reciprocal thinking is another way to apply knowledge and help students understand and think deeply about what they have read.
After taking the communication and collaboration class at Trinity, I found it interesting the difference they said there is between collaboration and cooperation. Woolfolk describes collaboration as how we deal with people and relate to others. Cooperation is more about how we work together with one another to achieve a goal (pg 373).
In chapter 11, I learned about the difference between self-efficacy and self-concept. Before reading this chapter, I would use those terms interchangeably. After reading this, I learned that self-efficacy is future oriented, self-concept is a more global construct that can include self-efficacy. It's more about "Can I do it?" than "Are others better than me?" (pg. 405.)
This chapter also had a major focus on self-regulated learning. Woolfolk says that self-regulated learners engage in analyzing tasks, setting goals and designating plans, engaging in learning, and adjusting their approach to learning. So far, I have not seen this take place in my placement, but they are starting summer school next week and I am hoping to see more self-regulated learning take place rather than sticking to the curriculum and depending on their aides so much.
In the future, I hope to help teach my students explicitly how to become self-regulated in order to teach them independence and help them become better goal setters and achievers outside of the classroom as well.
Jessica, what have you seen in the way of cooperative and collaborative learning? What were the differences in actual practice in a classroom situation?
ReplyDeleteHi Jess,
ReplyDeleteI think you bring up an interesting topic about students becoming self-regulated espceially when working with older studnents. It is very important to teach students how to think about something and form their own opinion. I think when students practice constructivisim they will make better choices. I interviewed a high school teacher and she could not express how important it is for her students to learn how to form their own opinion and not just follow what the media says or believe something just because it is in a text book or on the internet.