What is learning: According to Jerome Bruner you can teach children complex ideas at a young age without giving them the in depth lecture type background information. I know this is true from watching my husband with our 3 year old granddaughter. He has taught her the process of reloading without the complex background knowledge of measuring powder, etc. She knows what to do and enjoys it. He has also taught her all the basic tools used to fix things, and has shown her many ways to use these tools. Her other grandfather was impressed with her knowledge when he was doing some work around his house.
How is learning best effecutated by a teacher:A statement made in the first reading by David Page was that children learn faster than adults if in terms they understand. As teachers we need to make sure we present the material at a level they understand to facilitate learning. I think as adults we add extra stuff to the material we are learning which takes us longer. We need to learn from little children who just take it as it is. They believe what you say is true and they copycat what you teach them. Thus they learn faster. As we get older we have to decide if it is true, do we really want to do it that way, will we ever use this information, etc. We complicate things, thus our minds are filled to capacity with what if's. Therefore there is little room for new information. This is only my idea. I may be way off base.
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Now, can she skin what she shoots and does the recoil knock her over? :-} What a fun example. I agree that understanding sometimes comes later, and is often better when we don't understand all the principles involved. I'm thinking of my computer right now...I am typing and suddenly the whole word can read my thoughts...way cool. I understand very little of how it all actually works, just that it does and I use it. I'm not sure about the little room for new information comment, maybe we just get tired of new stuff. Good comments, Harold
ReplyDeleteHarold
ReplyDeleteI love it! You are typing so the whole world can read what you are writing but you personally don't really know how it all works. What a great example of Bruner and feedback to Toni's comments.