Critical Reflection:
What I consider the central argumentof the paper is that ‘Learning is internal and cognitive and not to be confused with its external manifestation in action’ (p.3).
The idea that I found to be particularly challenging from the paper is the same as the central argument I chose. – ‘Learning is internal and cognitive and not to be confused with its external manifestation in action’ (p.3). – As a teacher for quite a long time already, I have been taught since college days of these three domains in learning: 1) cognitive, 2) affective and 3) psychomotor.Reading this part of the article has reminded me of my own practice where I should target the highest level of learning that is the evaluative part—from cognition to the appreciation and most especially to the psychomotor one where students could apply in real life situations the learning they already acquired from the lesson. It is interesting to note that while teachers have perpetually go through a routine such as following the three (3) domains above, it still does not guarantee its effectiveness unless ‘Learning becomes a discovery. – it has to be meaningful and understandable to the learners which is what constructivism advocates. Vygotsky reveals that ‘concepts of learning is developmental and emphasizes the active involvement of the individual with their context in developing their learning,’ hence, learning is something that is interactive and social. Therefore, internal and cognitive aspects of learning extend to social environment – its external manifestation in action.
The points I didn’t agree with is how it is pointed out that “The Work on Experimental Psychology and Behaviourism” which seeks to understand learning as a function of environmental histories of reinforcements and rewards without recourse to inner mental states (Thorndike and Skinner, p. 2-3)” is often pointed out as the approach of learning which has failed to explain and develop higher order cognitive functions of learning, such as problem solving and critical thinking or to explain the abilities of transfer of knowledge from one situation to another (p. 3). – This could not be the case, for it is clear the Behaviorists believe that what one learns is influenced by the environment. Higher order cognitive functions of learning occur in the environment where an individual mingles with co-learners and teachers to process learning and transfer it into something real as life.
The implications of the argument to my area of expertise or context are: 1) Teacherscould always review their practice, view it in a new perspective, given these readings on “The Social Turn in Understanding Learning and its Implications for Facilitating Learning;” 2)It is a platform to reflect upon the importance of internal and cognitive learning in relation to the individual’s world of experiences; 3)It reiteratesthe idea that Classroom Instruction shouldmaximize peerinstructions, collaboration, and small group instruction; 4) Having mentioned Number 3, teachers who practice it confirm their effective use of the strategy, not to mention the great assistance students contribute as they themselves become co-creators of the lessons/materials in class; and 5)The awareness oflearners’ engagement in the instructional task empowers students, making them initiators of the learning, controllers of the learning process, thinkers of the learner’s goals, being accountable for the learning act/actions (Role of Experience in Learning).
What is desirable here is the opportunity of the reader as I am to redirect, refocus, and revive what were once vague, static or routinely. Given the time to improve my lessons, I look forward to fix, enhance, expand and reinvent them by including appropriate activities and exercises. What my students have contributed such as the slides they created should turn out to be something complete from the introduction, development of the lesson to the assessment part. I could get their assistance to do the improvement as they are adept in technology where they can manipulate the computer, create colorful but meaningful slides and share these slides to other co-teachers teaching the same subject.
By: Lilia S. Crisostomo | Senior High School Teacher atBataan National High School 03-28-2017 | BNHS – Balanga City, Bataan
