People often say that everyone can learn. Yet the reality is that everyone does learn. Every person is born with a brain that functions as an immensely powerful processor.
How learning take place in your classroom through the following principles?
1. Learning engages the whole physiology. and
2. Learning always involves conscious and unconscious processes. Caine & Caine, 2006
This means that the physical health of the child -- the amount of sleep, the nutrition -- affects the brain. So do moods. We are physiologically programmed, and we have cycles that have to be honored. A child who does not get enough sleep one night will not absorb much new information the next day. Fatigue will affect the brain's memory.
ReplyDeletePresently, I am teaching at the preschool level. Thus, as a teacher my major aim is to guide the students through the four stages of learning; that is, unconscious incompetence, conscious incompetence, conscious competence and unconscious competence. It's essential to establish awareness of a weakness prior to attempting to impart knowledge. Therefore, as a guide I always begin at stage 1 'unconscious incompetence.'For example, introducing a new letter of the alphabet. The students are not aware of the name or sound of the letter. In order to move the students to the next stage, I demonstrate the importance of knowing the name and sound of the letter. On a daily basis, i reinforce the letter through the usage of interesting and exciting child centered activities. By end of the week, the students can automatically recognize the letter (in words, alphabet, their names). Achieving this stage (unconscious competence) is my greatest satisfaction.
ReplyDeleteConscious and unconscious Process
ReplyDeleteWe learn much more than we ever consciously understand. Most of the signals that are peripherally perceived enter the brain without our awareness and interact on unconscious levels. This is why we say that learners become their experience and remember what they experience, not just what they are told.
It's very true. I experience the same things with my children here at school. I notice that they learn differently. Every brain is uniquely organized. We all have the same set of systems, and yet we are all different. Some of this difference is a consequence of our genetic endowment. Some of it is a consequence of differing experiences and differing environments. The differences express themselves in terms of learning styles, differing talents and intelligences, and so on. An important corollary is to appreciate that learners are different and need choice, while ensuring multiplicity of inputs. Multiple intelligences and vast ranges in diversity are, therefore, characteristic of what it means to be human. children learn as they are been taught. In most cases, children share what they have learn either with what they are understanding or from their experience. Children unconsciously imitate their teachers, friends, families, and other people who are around them.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading and understanding various research based on a number of philosophers, I deem that students are different and we need to plan teaching strategies which will guide them to learn base on their own capabilities. From my perspective, children should be taught to be competent in life, and learn the truth through exploring and experiencing it. Children should be guided through steps as they develop themselves physically, emotionally, socially, creatively, and cognitively due to the fact that they are unique and learn differently. I must understand that children learn through phases, so I must plan in order to develop the ‘selves’ or various aspects of children and at the same time ensure that whatever is taught is at their level of learning.
ReplyDeleteSummary
ReplyDeleteAccording to Bredekamp and Copple (1997), “ Teachers need to understand the general capabilities and interest common to each age of childhood, so that they can plan curriculum that is neither so difficult, discouraging, uninteresting or so undemanding.” However, as a teacher my task is to maintain a balance between how I teach with how children learn. In addition, I believe that teaching should be based on the principle of allowing children to construct their own knowledge, and I as the teacher acting as the facilitator. In essence, the constructivist approach allows me, to provide the material and environment for such learning to occur, and this idea is supported by many educators, which emphasizes on allowing children to construct their own knowledge. I am persuaded that students need to develop mentally and should always strive for excellence. This can only be attained by using various teaching/learning approaches to address students’ need. Every child has their own way of learning; thus, educators and curriculum designers should consider this when planning the curriculum and lesson plans. It is crucial to understand that education should provide and offer for all students and not only for the brighter ones. Once students are given equal opportunities considering their own capabilities and other environment factors, for sure they will succeed and become outstanding persons within their own potentials. As an end result, students should never be compared with others because each student is unique with his/her own strengths and weaknesses.