The concepts of constructiveness is learner centered approach to learning where in the Learners are actively constructing the knowledge. The learner has different aspects of intelligence & it depends only on them as to how they see fit to enhance their intelligence.

In this theory, the two concepts we used in learning knowledge of students are the accommodation and assimilation, which gives a clear understanding of those students that have a hard time understanding a given topic lesson, while on the other hand if the learner has old knowledge experience, they will have own initiative on how to become creative, more active. Hence the students will become more productive to their own learning through adapting to new and old learning knowledge experiences.

It also depicts how the brain process the new information by assimilation or accommodation as some knowledge is just for information while some knowledge can make changes to the stored knowledge. The effects of cognitive disequilibrium is a true fact and can be seen when there is conflict within the person to reject the new information or knowledge received, which sometimes would mean showing physical rejection like getting angry or fighting.

It also makes us understand the concept of ZPD (Zone of Prozimal Development) & MKO (More Knowledgeable Others) and how MKO can provide scaffolding to the learner. The teacher has to help the learner like as a MKO wherever required, but should withdraw on the right time so that it is a learner centered process of support, hence making them to solve problems on their own and create their own problems and allow their classmates to solve them this will help them build their own knowledge.

Social interaction would play a great role for the student to experience situations which they could use for learning. If the teacher identifies that the ZPD is on the construction of his sentences, they could expose the student to several situational video clips that could inspire learner to create their own scenario in this case the MKO would be the video clips. An alternative could also be reading short stories which involve day to day activities that the students might find useful in their learning construction. They could also work in small groups to facilitate brainstorming of ideas so they could pick each other’s minds. As Vygotsky believes that development comes after social learning. 

Thus Constructiveness theories focuses our attention on how people learn and revolve around the idea that learning, is an active process of creating meaning out of experiences and it helps the educator understand the importance of constructed knowledge through assessment and experience as the constructive theory corroborates the brain and it processing to a construction site. The primary role of teaching is not to lecture, explain, or ‘transfer’ mathematical knowledge, but to create situations for students that will foster their making the necessary mental constructions. Piaget’s theory covered learning theories and teaching methods that enhances their students’ logical and conceptual growth.

The brain works in mysterious ways, to understand teaching in general, we have to understand the how the information is retained and how it is recalled when it is required.

As teacher’s we should understand the requirement of the learners and break the subject into smaller manageable parts, considering the cognitive learning theory, that the memory overload is avoided. The educator has also to first make the students understand the declarative part and then help them move onto the procedural part of the knowledge thus practically showing the students the application of knowledge. The teacher should also understand the philosophy of the brains attention and utilize selective attention, sustained attention, divided attention, executive attention wherever necessary.

For better understanding the brain works as a computer where the short-term memory works as the RAM, and the long-term memory similar to the ROM. We cannot overload the brain to learn similar to the processor speed of the computer, it will help for a short-term recalling but we cannot retain it for long. If an information is broken down in pieces and the presentation is such that the learner can visualize it, relate it to other information and understand what and why they are learning then there is more chance that the information can be retained for longer time. The educator should understand the needs of the learner and offer to make them understand the application of information that is being taught to them rather than making them just memorize for the sake of grades.

In our present marks / grade oriented culture, learners think that the only thing required by them is to get good grades to please their parents, teachers and peers. The other problem is that the hiring process in practical world is based on the grades that one scored, learners are judged by everyone based on their grades, a person who is good in musical instruments or mechanical assembling/ disassembling a complex machine parts or an innovator are usually not accepted by any society. Example a teacher will never be liked by the management, if they are asking for too many tools to help the learners with better learning or if they want to use non-traditional ways then they are always challenged by the management and even their colleagues to just do their “jobs” and not get too creative. Similarly the learner who demand more than others students are usually not famous amongst teachers.

The modern education has unfortunately become a tool for earning money only and like some prestigious professions, there is exploitation and the learner who pays the hefty fees will end up to learn how to earn more money be it good or bad. Hence the passion of the education itself is almost extinct, the educators or learners who are in for the passion are usually left out behind by their colleagues.

The whole system cannot be changed but at-least we should try to alter some of the learning process to benefit the learners in getting the necessary help that is required by them in order to get maximum benefit form the educators.

Teaching and learning theories have emphasized the important role teacher’s play in supporting students’ development in areas beyond their core academic skill . For example, in their conceptualization of high-quality teaching, Pianta and Hamre (2009) describe a set of emotional support and organizational techniques that are equally important to learners as teachers’ instructional methods. They posit that by providing “emotional support and a predictable, consistent, and safe environment”, teachers can help students become more self-reliant, motivated to learn, and willing to take risks. Furthermore, by modeling strong organizational and management structures, teachers can help build students’ own ability to self-regulate. Content-specific views of teaching also highlight the importance of teacher behaviors that develop students’ attitudes in ways that may not directly impact their academics. The internet especially social media platforms have prepared the world to become a village. Access to information and to anyone across the world is easy implying that the opportunities are more than they were before.
People acquire a lot from observations throughout their lives, for example, people who travel frequently acquire more observational learning then the ones that do not travel. Moreover, we take the habits of our parents, siblings and relatives when we are younger and later on we get additional behavior from peer’s and models that we look upto. Some of my cousins started their own business after they were motivated from a relative in our province.
As we discussed before, connectivity via social media over the internet is the core basis of communication and learning. People have followers on their social media profile and the individuals who are not connected are left out. The younger generation just follow the models they choose over the internet and follow their styles and designs.

There are two basic assumptions – a public observable and a measurable behavior that are used by the behaviorist to measure the behaviorism which is also the learning theory that is often associated with the behavior view. The focus of the behavior approach is on how the environment impacts overt behavior. Learning is a relatively permanent change in behavior that is the result of experience, so based on the student’s emotional response to the behavior theories, it might be a great help to remove the bad habits and facilitate in constructing a good habit for students.
There are three types of behavioral learning theories: Contiguity theory, Classical or respondent conditioning theory, Operant or instrumental conditioning theory. The classical conditioning theory focuses on the conditioned or unconditioned stimulus vs the conditioned or unconditioned responses. The operant conditioning focuses on the reinforcements and punishments to contain or remove a behavior, focusing on the law of effect.
There are arguable advantages and disadvantages to the behavior theories, the cons being that behaviorists are not interested in the conscious decision of the individual to disrupt, modify, or go against the conditioning process but they are only interested in that aspect of feedback that connects directly to overt behavior.
Hence we can conclude that the application of these theories depends on the user for the improvement influence or to remove the free-will and try to control the behavior by manipulation of the environment. Another debatable idea is that weather it can change the long-term behavior of a human being as mind is a powerful tool that can intervene in the process, unlike animals.

“Stay away from negative people, they have a problem for every solution”

Every individual has the right to their own version of a subject or event, and it can be acceptable to some and rejected by some.

My original idea was different (based on my experience and learning) and i was dual minded to the idea of the IQ test viz the efficiency and the practical application. However the discussion proved to be a blessing as it made me get new ideas, new prospective and new point of views. For example the idea of EQ, the requirement to change the current system so more of the intelligence can be recognized, and the over all efficiency of the system.

I would conclude that an open minded healthy discussion on any subject is an extremely effective tool and it should be practiced not only in education but in other spheres of life be it personal, professional.

Happy Learning!

We can measure our weight on a weighing scale, we can also measure our height on a scale, and we can measure our blood-sugar level and blood pressure level on various machines. Thus, the question that started the quest and startled many for more than 200 years, is finally conceptualized through various intellects and research viz their theory. It is finally organized in a way that led one to believe that it can be used to the extent of measuring a person’s intelligence. Today we know it as intelligence quotient or as most know it as, the IQ.

Intellects theories of Binet, Spearman, Gardner, Goleman, etc. are established on certain criteria’s and each person based their ideology around them, trying to understand and set parameters to test the IQ of masses at different levels.

The child while being admitted to schools or college has to go through written or verbal tests to make decisions if they are eligible to fit in or not, similarly after being admitted to a school/college the child has to pass various class assessments, semester exams, etc. so they can move on to the next level. The same goes for a person applying for a job has who has to go through various tests or interviews to understand his eligibility.

We are bound by this very traditional system that is built around us and inclined to follow the process set upon us without the audacity of challenging it or upgrading it. In the last few decade, the concept of white board, e-learning was a myth. I would like to propose that we should try and implement a new structure that would give the opportunity to various masses who are neglected or rejected by the traditional system but are intelligent in their own way. Of course we cannot say that all people are equal as their abilities are different and can never be at the same level, but we should at least try to think of the bigger picture to secure and improve the future of the upcoming generations, because as an educator we are the path they take, upon which can either lead them to a great success or a devastating failure.

“The measure of intelligence is the ability to change” – Albert Einstein

Thanks for joining me!

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton

A simple 8 letter word yet the idea and the debatable meaning varying as vast as the ocean.

What Can Be Next?

Is it philosophical with its arguments & models of learning and schemes or is it theoretic with its vast models and pre-defined behaviors and trades, or maybe it’s just experience where you wake up and start learning from the minute your mind is activated to the minute your mind is sleeping.Then there is the value of time and constant learning or the implicit learning all in one boat, in one context the mixture of some can be used like theory mixed with academics or just experience where someone. The person who is academic can be more learned then the person with more experience and less academic education? If so why are they not educators? One can ask, what if my education did not even reach high-school could I still become an educator. The most important thing however, is the scope and the willingness of one person to actually WANT to learn. For example, our grandparents didn’t know how to use touch screen gadgets or my niece or nephew can’t drive a car, can age be a factor in learning? We all might have seen kids perform better than older people in some trade. Can we not just say learning is anything and everything that helps us cope with our day to day life? Or yet another easy way: Learning is just evolution in any form be it either good or be it bad. There are debates if we can actually unlearn anything but many psychiatrist would disagree that we can actually never unlearn any experience or knowledge, it’s always there in the brain.