<body><script type="text/javascript"> function setAttributeOnload(object, attribute, val) { if(window.addEventListener) { window.addEventListener('load', function(){ object[attribute] = val; }, false); } else { window.attachEvent('onload', function(){ object[attribute] = val; }); } } </script> <div id="navbar-iframe-container"></div> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://apis.google.com/js/platform.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> gapi.load("gapi.iframes:gapi.iframes.style.bubble", function() { if (gapi.iframes && gapi.iframes.getContext) { gapi.iframes.getContext().openChild({ url: 'https://www.blogger.com/navbar/2043907259041617144?origin\x3dhttp://reflectionsofmylearningenvironment.blogspot.com', where: document.getElementById("navbar-iframe-container"), id: "navbar-iframe" }); } }); </script>
 
 
Reflections on Presentation
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
The presentation on the different pioneers in the learning environment were very interesting as I found them to be applicable to our society even till now, whether it's in the field of education of the management of companies.

Kurt Lewin proposed a Force- Field Analysis which is a specialized method of weighing pros and cons to make a decision.  It is adopted by management teams as a strategy to assess their company. My group members raised the point that managements should strive towards eliminating all the cons instead of reaching an equilibrium. 

On further thought, in reality, is it really possible to eliminate all cons with all the possible conflicts between human social behaviour? I am still interested to find out the reason. 

Another important person to note is Barry Fraser who did a thesis on  Classroom and school learning environments.  He used a variety of techniques to assess students’ or teachers’ perceptions of classroom or school environments. This is essential to the contribution of knowledge in the education field as it develops teachers' pedagogies and highlights their importance in creating a conducive learning environment. 

Last but not least, Henry Murray's Psychogenic Needs also had a deep impact in psychology.  He suggests that our personalities are a reflection of behaviours controlled by needs.  Our need for power, affiliation or achievement steer us towards our behaviours.  I find this particularly applicable in many fields of research and forms the theoretical framework for many of the studies as it investigates human behaviours and their motivations.  
(JessicaKayla) ♥ 5:59 AM
Reflections on How People Learn Chapter 6
Sunday, August 10, 2008
After reading the article, it has further reinforced the important role that we play in constructing an effective learning environment.

In the past, rote learning seemed to be the key to aceing our exams. However, there is now a paradigm shift from chalk and talk to diagnostic teaching. Gone are the days when assessing understanding was through the means of memorizing. Now, evaluation means asking application questions that require the child to reason and predict phenomena assessed their understanding of the concept.

The implication for us as teachers is that we need to make bridges between the subject and the subject matter in order to stimulate our students' interest. We incorporate videos, games, or cartoon characters into our curriculum so that pupils can see that fun is not detached from learning. Pupils will also be able to see that what they are learning is also relevant to their daily lives. Our assessment mode also has to shift from recall questions to application questions to assess students' application of knowledge in different situations rather than memory work.

Next, teacher's expectations of the classroom environment also affects students' learning. Do we construct a "safe" learning environment governed by rules and regulations? Is there room for mistakes? How often do we praise our students? These are just some of the that questions contribute to the environment that may hinder or enhance students' ability to learn. Teachers' beliefs and values are passed on to their students through their teaching, therefore we need to be acutely aware of the words and attitudes we display.

In conclusion, we need to be constantly updated on the different methods and environments in which our children learn in order to apply teaching pedagogies to bridge the gap between learning and our students.
(JessicaKayla) ♥ 7:52 PM
My 1st posting
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Just dropping in to say hi!
(JessicaKayla) ♥ 7:09 AM