Reflection on Teaching and Learning with the Internet: A Constructivist View
By: NORMIE BINTI SARIP PGC070015
This presentation was presented by Normie Sarip and Maryam Abdul Rahman on August 6, 2009. To deliver this topic, we choose an article entitle A Constructivist Model for Thinking About Learning Online by Karen Swan from Research Centre for Educational Technology, Kent State University. Personally, I felt relieved to be able to deliver such topic with all my best and this was one of our best presentations in fully English (referring to good review from our fellow classmates- thank you very much).
What are the key learning points from the whole activity?
First of all, we should aware that constructivism is a theory of learning, not of instruction. However, constructivist theory can inform pedagogy and instruction. Therefore, the base of this theory or practice is students do most of the work; especially the thinking part. Teacher’s role is as the facilitator and the one who needs to create and prepare learning environment. Constructivism also promotes social interaction in education ecology- students with students, students with teachers, students with technology and students with community. Students construct their own knowledge from their experience and interactions with others. The knowledge construction happens again and again through their entire life because they are making sense of what they already knew with new information they gain. Best belief that this will help them to store information meaningfully and later can retrieve it easily, as they can connect each of the information usefully. Plus, they can use their knowledge to solve difficult and more complex problems.
Important to teachers to trust their students and let them explore the possibilities with constant guidance. Teachers also are recommended to remediate students’ understanding to make sure everybody are on the same page, and to make sure students learn what they intend to learn. In my opinion, constructivism suite the online learning or web-based learning environment because it give the freedom for students to click and click for more information, to socialize with worldwide learning community and independently construct their own knowledge. WebQuest is one of the best-practice ways to deliver constructivism instruction. The general overview of WebQuest must consist of introduction, task, process, evaluation, conclusion and credits. This guide will help teachers to innovatively create learning platform that suite their students ability, and intrinsically guide their students.
How can I apply it in my own teaching and learning?
Frankly after reading the article and surf the related website, I was convinced that nowadays students can do much more than what we teachers expect. They are more advance in using latest technologies and we as teachers should not underestimate their capabilities. Also, technologies will help teachers to enhance teaching and learning process as long as the teachers are equip enough with require knowledge of technology and master the content. I would like to start applying constructivist theory by giving my students spaces for own knowledge searching and less the spoon feeding of information. I am considering using WebQuest to deliver certain topics. I also would like to encourage my students to keep on learning, not just to pass the examinations.
Are there opportunities for further research?
Yes there are. First, to find out whether WebQuest is suitable to be use in our education system (most people said we are very exam-oriented, WebQuest is just too much of time to spend with). Second, to find out is WebQuest suitable for underperforming students. Thirdly, what subjects or topics that suite enough to deliver by using WebQuest. For us WebQuest is new but out there, in online world, WebQuest is ancient.
I would like to conclude by quoting Confucious’s: Learning without thought is labor lost; thought without learning is perilous.
Thank you.
p/s: pembentangan dalam 99% English yang lebih terancang, fokus dan best :) personal improvement and achievement sebab last sem nye presentation kelas Dr Tee adalah tak menjadi sangat.
