Applications:Jerome Bruner's Constructivist Theory

     Actually, there are still more topics under Jerome Bruner's theory. However I only discussed about the 2 major and the most practical ideas of this theory. This is because I also would like to tackle other topics since I have said that LET is just around the corner. And my assurance to you is that the 2 topics that I have discussed usually if not always come out in the exam. Anyway, I already posted one of the bests if not the best link about this topic so don't fret.hehehe...The following are the implications and applications of Bruner's topics. Take note that you can also add if you have your own. Just write these in the comment box.

For teachers:
1. Make your instruction appropriate to the level of the learners. For example, being aware of the learners' learning modes (enactive, iconic, symbolic) will help you plan and prepare appropriate materials for instruction. Or you can revisit certain topics but with the difficulty that match learners' level(spiral curriculum).

2. Use active methods in teaching. Teacher's role is not anymore a "sage on stage" rather a "guide on the side". Have the students be actively involved with the lesson. Initiate activities that will arouse their curiosity and interests by giving them challenging activities and exercises.

3. Give students the opportunity to reflect and recount their experiences. Have discussions, group sharing and dialogues.

4. Go beyond facts. Facts must be taken into whole to form concepts. Categorization will greatly help.(Sorry I wasn't able to discuss categorization. Just refer to the link in my previous post.)

5. Give feedback and reinforcement but more intrinsically oriented. According to Bruner, the interest in the subject matter is the best motivation to learn. Avoid giving too much emphasis on competition and grades.

Applications:Jerome Bruner's Constructivist Theory

   
     Actually, there are still more topics under Jerome Bruner's theory. However I only discussed about the 2 major and the most practical ideas of this theory. This is because I also would like to tackle other topics since I have said that LET is just around the corner. And my assurance to you is that the 2 topics that I have discussed usually if not always come out in the exam. Anyway, I already posted one of the bests if not the best link about this topic so don't fret.hehehe...The following are the implications and applications of Bruner's topics. Take note that you can also add if you have your own. Just write these in the comment box.

For teachers:
1. Make your instruction appropriate to the level of the learners. For example, being aware of the learners' learning modes (enactive, iconic, symbolic) will help you plan and prepare appropriate materials for instruction. Or you can revisit certain topics but with the difficulty that match learners' level(spiral curriculum).

2. Use active methods in teaching. Teacher's role is not anymore a "sage on stage" rather a "guide on the side". Have the students be actively involved with the lesson. Initiate activities that will arouse their curiosity and interests by giving them challenging activities and exercises.

3. Give students the opportunity to reflect and recount their experiences. Have discussions, group sharing and dialogues.

4. Go beyond facts. Facts must be taken into whole to form concepts. Categorization will greatly help.(Sorry I wasn't able to discuss categorization. Just refer to the link in my previous post.)

5. Give feedback and reinforcement but more intrinsically oriented. According to Bruner, the interest in the subject matter is the best motivation to learn. Avoid giving too much emphasis on competition and grades.

image source: http://www.jacquetta.net/Bruner.jpg

Jerome Bruner's Constructivist Theory: Spiral Curriculum

     As a continuation of my previous post last time, I will discuss on Jerome Bruner's concept that is really dominant in schools but unknown to many---Spiral Curriculum. Have you ever noticed the books of elementary pupils from grades 1-6? Have you observed that the topics are just being repeated right? Although there are some new topics, there are topics that are being repeated all over again. This is also true not only in elementary, but also in high school and up to college.

     Constructivist's view of learning tells us that learners must be given opportunities to recount and reflect on their experiences in order to have foundations for their future and new learning. Furthermore, teachers must also base what they teach on the level appropriate for the learners. Adding these two important ideas, we can now give meaning to what spiral curriculum really is.

     Forgive me but I will just quote Corpus and Lucas's definition. According to them, spiral curriculum is revisiting the curriculum by teaching the same content in different ways depending on students' developmental levels. Now, I hope this answers why topics are repeated all over again, but with a level, complexity and difficulty appropriate to the learners. Through these repeating, recounting or revisiting of topics, learners will have a clearer and progressive understanding thus enhances learning.

Constructivism: Jerome Bruner's Constructivist Theory

 
  Please forgive me if my posts are in chunks. You know, I update my blog using only my cellphone. I don't have any laptop or a pc of my own. I repeated this how many times and I will say this again. For those of you who have an old or surplus laptop or pc, I will appreciate it very much if you can give it to me...wehehehe(half joke-half truth)

     I would like to tackle about one of the constructivist psychologists whose works are actually utilized in schools but unknown to some. Since I lack character spaces on my previous post, I wasn't able to discuss that there are 2 views of constructivism:cognitive constructivism and social constructivism. I will just discuss these later as I discuss each constructivist psychologist and his works.

     Our man of the moment is Jerome Bruner. He is under the cognitive constructivism school of thought which stresses individual and inner construction of knowledge. He has given us important concepts about learning which I will just discuss one by one.

I. Stages of Knowledge Representation
According to Bruner, knowledge representation develops in 3 stages: Enactive, Iconic and Symbolic.
1. Enactive. The first stage in which learning is based on hands on experiences of physical objects together with the consequences that go after. Knowledge is represented through senses. You may have noticed this among children who learn about the world through touching and manipulating objects, smelling flowers, tasting a fruit, etc. However, this doesn't mean that this type of representation is only for babies or young children. This could also mean manipulative learning of objects such as learning how to use a microscope, to ride in a bicycle, or practicing how to dance, to do stunts, or to play a musical instrument.
2. Iconic. Knowledge can now be represented using models and pictures. Learners know how to make mental images of their world. This can be seen on books full of brightly colored pictures that are being used to teach children.
3. Symbolic. Learners can think in abstract. So abstract terms and symbol systems can be used to represent knowledge like numbers, mathematical symbols, letters and language. This is the reason why most of the books in college do not have so many pictures compared to books used in elementary.

Images of these topics and better and more credible (why? does this mean mine isn't? hehehe) discussions are found in this link http://brunerwiki.wikispaces.com/