Chapter 7 Learning Log

What?
Chapter 7 is about the Constructivism theory. Constructivism focuses on learning being an active process in which learners construct their own meaning. Advantages of this theory are students play an active role in the learning experience, and students often learn on a deeper level because they are creating a meaning. However, a big disadvantage to this theory is that students may often create a meaning based on a misconception. It is important to note that a misconception is a belief that is inconsistent with a commonly accepted scientific explanation. Students are most likely to revise these misconceptions when they recognize their beliefs are inadequate. Also it is important to understand that prior knowledge and expectations are especially likely to influence learning when new information is ambiguous. Therefore it is important for a teacher to communicate material in as clear a way as possible to avoid students misinterpreting it.

So What?
One of the main ideas I took from this chapter that I feel is extremely important for future teachers to be aware of, and therefore making this chapter important to be on the syllabus, is avoiding student misconceptions. This information, that ambiguous and unclear instruction can lead to misconceptions, can help one to be a great teacher by making the teacher simply making a teacher aware. To understand that students may often fill-in any vague spots in a teachers instruction with their own meaning, which has the potential to be incorrect, makes a teacher make certain that his/her instruction and communications are clear.

Now What?
There are several key was to assure students don't leave my classroom with misconceptions of the material I have taught. First, common misconceptions can be addressed. If I am aware of common misconceptions that often arise with a certain concept, addressing them can make students aware of them. Second, I can address these misconceptions and provide new information that contradicts them. Third, I can address the fact that often students at any level create misconceptions, and revising them is part of the learning process. And fourth, I need to be aware of what my students are saying during and after the lesson to catch in lingering misconceptions.