[NLA] Constructivist vs Direct Instruction

[JATDP@aol.com]

I would agree with the eloquent part...as well as a plea to not polarize 
strategies (or most other things, for that matter). 

And, much less eloquently, I will add that the instructional method might 
change also depending on  what 'kind' of information you are learning. 
Looking back on another career, teaching chemistry, I used to be rather 
embarrassed by remembering my years of direct teaching. But cognitive science 
leads me to believe that facts & figures are sometimes best learned & taught 
directly so they are available for more constructivist problem solving. 
Expert knowers, say some researchers, have a body of data at their figure 
tips to free them up for effective problem solving. Both strategies 
definitely have their place and usefulness. 
(You might want to look at Jennifer Cromley's NIFL fellowship publication at 
www.nifl.gov for a host of useful research references.)

The policy connections... 
a) certainly that there is no one-best instructional strategy as many have 
said loudly, and policy makers need to understand and honor that, and
b) when we are about educating policy makers, perhaps 'direct instruction' of 
the facts and figures of adult ed is the best method for expediency after 
all. (tongue partly in check)

Judy Titzel
Providence, RI



<< 
 
             Ajit:
 
             Your comments are eloquent both in the magnitude of their
 meaning and in their brevity.  We need a variety of "tools for teaching" so
 we can increase the possibility of connecting with the variety of "tools for
 learning" what students bring.
 
             Thanks
 
             Duane Rankin
 ----- Original Message -----
 From: Gopalakrishnan Ajit (MIDD) <Ajit.Gopalakrishnan at po.state.ct.us>
 To: <nla at lists.literacytent.org>
 Sent: Tuesday, August 13, 2002 10:59 AM
 Subject: RE: [NLA] Constructivist vs Direct Instruction
 
 
 > Some of my most memorable learning experiences have been those that
 allowed
 > me the ability to define the problem at hand and invited my fullest
 > participation in developing solutions. However, there have also been times
 > when I have learned a great deal from a terrific presentation, or a
 > passionate lecturer.
 >
 > So it seems to me that there are times when instead of questioning the
 > effectiveness of one approach over another, an equally important question
 to
 > think about might be which approach (or combination of approaches) lends
 > itself better to achieving the desired learning outcomes.
 >
 > Ajit
 >
 > Ajit Gopalakrishnan
 > Associate Consultant
 > Connecticut Department of Education
 > 25 Industrial Park Road
 > Middletown, CT 06457
 > Phone: (860) 807-2123
 > Fax: (860) 807-2127
 > mailto:ajit.gopalakrishnan at po.state.ct.us
 > >>
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