Discussion Practice Questions
Facilitating Learner-Centered Teaching & Learning (CPE 104)
1. How important are Metacognitive strategies to facilitate
learning?
It is highly important to have metacognitive strategies in
facilitating learning. It’s because the capacity to understand and
regulate their own thinking benefits students of all ages and abilities.
The use of metacognitive thinking and strategies enables students to
become flexible, creative, and self-directed learners. Moreover, the
teaching and support of metacognitive skills in the classroom not only
allows learners to learn more effectively, but it also improves cognition
in all students at all levels of ability. It allows them to become aware of
their own thinking strategies for different learning tasks. Therefore,
metacognitive strategies can greatly enhance learning for all students
in all subject areas.
2. Briefly discuss the Learner Centered Principles.
Learner-centered psychological principles provide a framework
for developing and incorporating the components of new designs for
schooling. These principles emphasize the active and reflective nature
of learning and learners. From this perspective, educational practice
will be most likely to improve when the educational system is
redesigned with the primary focus on the learner.
These principles are divided into: Cognitive and Metacognitive
Factors, Motivational and Affective Factors, Developmental and Social
Factors, and Individual Differences Factors. Under these divisions are
the 14 principles which are the following:
1. Nature of the learning process.
2. Goals of the learning process.
3. Construction of knowledge.
4. Strategic thinking.
5. Thinking about thinking.
6. Context of learning.
7. Motivational and emotional influences on learning.
8. Intrinsic motivation to learn.
9. Effects of motivation on effort.
10. Developmental influences on learning.
11. Social influences on learning.
12. Individual differences in learning.
13. Learning and diversity.
, 14. Standards and assessment.
So, learner centered is based on an understanding of the
Learner-Centered Psychological Principles as a representation of the
current knowledge base on learners and learning. When teachers and
their practices function from an understanding of the knowledge base
outlined in the Principles, they (a) include learners in decisions about
how and what they learn and how that learning is assessed; (b) value
each learner's unique perspectives; (c) respect and accommodate
individual differences in learners' backgrounds, interests, abilities, and
experiences; and (d) treat learners as co-creators and partners in the
teaching and learning process.
3. Review the theories (with theorists) related to learners.
The scientific study of learning started in earnest at the dawn of
the 20th century. These are the major concepts and theories of
learning:
Behaviorism. One of the major behaviourist theorists is Edward
Thorndike. Behaviorism learning theory is the idea that how a learner
behaves is based on their interaction with their environment. It
suggests that behaviors are influenced and learned from external
forces rather than internal forces.
Cognitive learning theory. It looks at the way people think. Mental
processes are an important part in understanding how we learn. The
cognitive theory understands that learners can be influenced by both
internal and external elements. Plato, Descartes, and Jean Piaget are
one of the proponents of this theory.
Constructivism. It gave rise to the idea that learners are not passive
recipients of information, but that they actively construct their
knowledge in interaction with the environment and through the
reorganization of their mental structures. Proponents of these theory
includes Jean Piaget and Jerome Bruner.
Social Learning Theory. A well-known social learning theory has
been developed by Albert Bandura. His theory of learning suggests
that people learn within a social context, and that learning is facilitated
through concepts such as modeling, observational learning and
imitation.
Experiential Learning. Experiential learning theories build on social
and constructivist theories of learning but situate experience at the
core of the learning process. They aim to understand the manners in
, which experiences – whether first or second hand – motivate learners
and promote their learning. Therefore, learning is about meaningful
experiences – in everyday life – that lead to a change in an individual’s
knowledge and behaviors. Carl Rogers is an influential proponent of
these theories.
4. Compare the theories related to Learners Development namely
Freud, Erikson, Piaget, Kohlberg, Vygotsky & Bronfenbrener.
Let’s start with Freud. He said, “The mind is like an iceberg, it
floats with one-seventh of its bulk above water.” He believed that
much of what the person is really about is not what we see in the
outside and what is conscious, but what is there hidden in the
subconscious mind. Freud also emphasized the 3 components that
make up one’s personality (the id, ego, and superego.) He also
believed that an individual goes through five psychosexual stages of
development. (This includes the oral, anal, phallic, latency, and genital
stages.) Each stage demands satisfaction of needs, and failure to do so
results in fixations.
On the other hand, Erikson said, “Healthy children will not fear
life if their elders have integrity enough not to fear death”. He believed
in the impact of the significant others in the development of one’s view
of himself, life and of the world. He presented a very comprehensive
framework of 8 psycho-social stages of development. It is Erikson who
described the crisis that a person goes through: the maladaptation and
malignancies that result from failure to effectively resolve the crisis;
and the virtue that emerges when balance and resolution of the crisis
is attained.
Then Piaget said, “The principal goal of education in the schools
should be creating men and women who are capable of doing new
things, not simply repeating what other generations have done”
Piaget’s theory centered on the stages of cognitive development
(namely the sensory-motor, pre-operational, concrete-operational, and
formal operational stages.) Each has characteristic ways of thinking
and perceiving that shows how one’s cognitive abilities develop.
Moreover, Kohlberg said, “Right action tends to be defined in
terms of general individual rights and standards that have been
critically examined and agreed upon by the whole society.” Kohlberg
proposed 3 levels of moral development (pre-conventional,
conventional, and post-conventional) which are further subdivided into
the stages. Influenced by Piaget, Kohlberg believed that one’s
Facilitating Learner-Centered Teaching & Learning (CPE 104)
1. How important are Metacognitive strategies to facilitate
learning?
It is highly important to have metacognitive strategies in
facilitating learning. It’s because the capacity to understand and
regulate their own thinking benefits students of all ages and abilities.
The use of metacognitive thinking and strategies enables students to
become flexible, creative, and self-directed learners. Moreover, the
teaching and support of metacognitive skills in the classroom not only
allows learners to learn more effectively, but it also improves cognition
in all students at all levels of ability. It allows them to become aware of
their own thinking strategies for different learning tasks. Therefore,
metacognitive strategies can greatly enhance learning for all students
in all subject areas.
2. Briefly discuss the Learner Centered Principles.
Learner-centered psychological principles provide a framework
for developing and incorporating the components of new designs for
schooling. These principles emphasize the active and reflective nature
of learning and learners. From this perspective, educational practice
will be most likely to improve when the educational system is
redesigned with the primary focus on the learner.
These principles are divided into: Cognitive and Metacognitive
Factors, Motivational and Affective Factors, Developmental and Social
Factors, and Individual Differences Factors. Under these divisions are
the 14 principles which are the following:
1. Nature of the learning process.
2. Goals of the learning process.
3. Construction of knowledge.
4. Strategic thinking.
5. Thinking about thinking.
6. Context of learning.
7. Motivational and emotional influences on learning.
8. Intrinsic motivation to learn.
9. Effects of motivation on effort.
10. Developmental influences on learning.
11. Social influences on learning.
12. Individual differences in learning.
13. Learning and diversity.
, 14. Standards and assessment.
So, learner centered is based on an understanding of the
Learner-Centered Psychological Principles as a representation of the
current knowledge base on learners and learning. When teachers and
their practices function from an understanding of the knowledge base
outlined in the Principles, they (a) include learners in decisions about
how and what they learn and how that learning is assessed; (b) value
each learner's unique perspectives; (c) respect and accommodate
individual differences in learners' backgrounds, interests, abilities, and
experiences; and (d) treat learners as co-creators and partners in the
teaching and learning process.
3. Review the theories (with theorists) related to learners.
The scientific study of learning started in earnest at the dawn of
the 20th century. These are the major concepts and theories of
learning:
Behaviorism. One of the major behaviourist theorists is Edward
Thorndike. Behaviorism learning theory is the idea that how a learner
behaves is based on their interaction with their environment. It
suggests that behaviors are influenced and learned from external
forces rather than internal forces.
Cognitive learning theory. It looks at the way people think. Mental
processes are an important part in understanding how we learn. The
cognitive theory understands that learners can be influenced by both
internal and external elements. Plato, Descartes, and Jean Piaget are
one of the proponents of this theory.
Constructivism. It gave rise to the idea that learners are not passive
recipients of information, but that they actively construct their
knowledge in interaction with the environment and through the
reorganization of their mental structures. Proponents of these theory
includes Jean Piaget and Jerome Bruner.
Social Learning Theory. A well-known social learning theory has
been developed by Albert Bandura. His theory of learning suggests
that people learn within a social context, and that learning is facilitated
through concepts such as modeling, observational learning and
imitation.
Experiential Learning. Experiential learning theories build on social
and constructivist theories of learning but situate experience at the
core of the learning process. They aim to understand the manners in
, which experiences – whether first or second hand – motivate learners
and promote their learning. Therefore, learning is about meaningful
experiences – in everyday life – that lead to a change in an individual’s
knowledge and behaviors. Carl Rogers is an influential proponent of
these theories.
4. Compare the theories related to Learners Development namely
Freud, Erikson, Piaget, Kohlberg, Vygotsky & Bronfenbrener.
Let’s start with Freud. He said, “The mind is like an iceberg, it
floats with one-seventh of its bulk above water.” He believed that
much of what the person is really about is not what we see in the
outside and what is conscious, but what is there hidden in the
subconscious mind. Freud also emphasized the 3 components that
make up one’s personality (the id, ego, and superego.) He also
believed that an individual goes through five psychosexual stages of
development. (This includes the oral, anal, phallic, latency, and genital
stages.) Each stage demands satisfaction of needs, and failure to do so
results in fixations.
On the other hand, Erikson said, “Healthy children will not fear
life if their elders have integrity enough not to fear death”. He believed
in the impact of the significant others in the development of one’s view
of himself, life and of the world. He presented a very comprehensive
framework of 8 psycho-social stages of development. It is Erikson who
described the crisis that a person goes through: the maladaptation and
malignancies that result from failure to effectively resolve the crisis;
and the virtue that emerges when balance and resolution of the crisis
is attained.
Then Piaget said, “The principal goal of education in the schools
should be creating men and women who are capable of doing new
things, not simply repeating what other generations have done”
Piaget’s theory centered on the stages of cognitive development
(namely the sensory-motor, pre-operational, concrete-operational, and
formal operational stages.) Each has characteristic ways of thinking
and perceiving that shows how one’s cognitive abilities develop.
Moreover, Kohlberg said, “Right action tends to be defined in
terms of general individual rights and standards that have been
critically examined and agreed upon by the whole society.” Kohlberg
proposed 3 levels of moral development (pre-conventional,
conventional, and post-conventional) which are further subdivided into
the stages. Influenced by Piaget, Kohlberg believed that one’s
