When we imagine the role of the teacher in the classroom, we picture an individual standing in front of a class, relaying information to his or her students. Unfortunately, this model is outdated and flawed, and one that has a negative affect on students nationwide. Under this model, students are not being equipped with the appropriate strategies needed to develop higher-order thinking skills. To combat this archaic model, many recommend an alternative that gives the student control over what he or she will learn. Ironically, not much learning takes place. As you would expect, when given the opportunity to choose, students tend to gravitate towards things they can already master. While this does nothing to improve their ability to learn, it does contain one key component to a healthy educational environment: peer-to-peer interaction - something vital to Lev Vygotsky's Sociocultural Theory
So, what can be done? Lev Vygotsky's Sociocultural model of learning appears to be the most fitting option for both teachers and students. Educators must challenge their students while being their for both support and guidance when needed. Only when students are challenged will learning take place. Educators must also form meaningful connections between the content and the lives of the students. When this is done, learning will not only happen, but it will be an enjoyable experience for everyone involved. Not only will a scaffolding-like interaction between teacher and student prove beneficial, where we are teaching to students' ZPDs, but the interaction between students will build on the knowledge they are developing. These are all things Vygotsky stressed in his model of learning - a socially structured model where understanding comes from everyone in the classroom. And these are all reasons why I feel the beliefs he held should be used n the classroom.
While I agree that students tend to choose only the things that they are good at, I don't think that means that the student has to be caught up in the skill that they like, or that they have complete mastery of it. Even when a student is provided with material they are familiar with, I think it is more than possible to expand on it and therefore provide the deepest amount of understanding. There are going to be children in our classrooms who may have already learned what we have to teach them so the main goal is to supplement the lesson with new information that they will find valuable.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Vygotsky's concepts, but you mention in here that learning will become an enjoyable experience. I do not necessarily believe that learning will always be enjoyable. I have learned many things that I don't necessarily enjoy, but I have still learned them and understand them. I think the important part is giving the support for learning to occur and while some may enjoy it others will not. The importance of it should be stressed and outlined though. Why a teacher is doing something is the most important part of teaching. For example, a flu shot isn't enjoyable, but if you know the purpose of it, it is something many want to have.
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