Putting It All Together

Now that we are getting toward the end of the semester, we have to think, how does all of this information we learned go together?

Amazingly, it all fits perfectly.

Take Bruner's Structure of Knowledge.

How would one tie together the different levels of his pyramid with other learning theories.

Meta-Cognition -- Re-Constructionism -- Social-Cognitive Theory.
Generalizations -- Existentialism-Humanism -- Multiple Intelligences/Brain Research Theory.
Concepts -- Progressivism -- Constructivist/Cognitive Theory.
Facts -- Perennialism/Essentialism -- Behaviorist Theory.

Before I continue with making connections, I must write the definitions for strategies, models, and methods.

Strategies are direct or indirect forms of instruction.

Direct instruction involves the teacher lecturing to students. This type of instruction can be done in the beginning of a unit when the teacher wants the students to learn basic information. It is also the easiest form of instruction to plan.

For indirect instruction, the role of the teacher changes. In this type of instruction, the teacher becomes more of a facilitator. The students actively participate through interactive, experiential, or independent ways.

Models are the broadest level of instructional practice and are philosophical.

There are four types of models; personal (develop self-esteem), Social Interaction (develop social skills), Information Processing (finding, organizing, processing information), and Behavioral (develop basic skills/knowledge).

Methods are the most specific ways of reaching goals.

There are hundreds of methods.

Now back to putting all of this information together.

One example of connecting Bruner's Structure of Knowledge, Bloom's Taxonomy, and strategies, models, and methods is this:

Meta-Cognition -- Creative Thinking/Evaluation/Synthesis -- Personal/Independent Study/Experiential.

It's been a lot to take in this semester, but it's all finally starting to come together.