I like the idea of a social constructivist model of teaching. The chinese proverb stated in the beginning of the article gives a nice explanation of how many students learn. "Tell me, and I forget. Show me, and I remember. Involve me, and I understand." As a elementary school student, I can remember learning activities best when I was directly connected with the materials, so it only makes sense to strive for a classroom with as much student involvement as I can. I think that it is important for students to be provided with multiple resources when learning new materials. Multiple presentations of the same information can push students to a higher level of thinking.
I also really like the six strategies for the use and application of knowledge. These six are:
- Teachers must consider students’ prior knowledge.
- Activities must encourage students to identify and use multiple resources.
- Activities must involve students in planning and carrying out investigations.
- Learned concepts and skills must be applied to new situations.
- Students should be allowed time for reflection.
- Teachers must help students take action to improve their own world.
I would like to use this list as a type of checklist for myself as a future teacher. I can look at it after a lesson and ask myself if I allowed time for all of these things to take place. I think that if I am able to do this then I will become a very successful social constructivist teacher. Overall, I thought this article explained how Science can be taught on many different levels very well. The social constructivist method of teaching allows students to synthesize information and hang on to that knowledge for a long time.
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