I like Vygotsky's views on education--especially the belief that learning can take place outside of the classroom. As I get older, I'm realizing that the majority of my learning doesn't take place in the school setting. My professors provide me with the tools and knowledge I need to ask questions and become an active learner in real-world situations. I remember my music teacher telling me about his experience in college. This man is one of the most talented musicians I know. He told me that he learned the most when he was out of college, on his own. I think that if you grow up in a culture and environment that encourages learning you will be a lifelong learner.
I also found it interesting how much of an impact teachers and peers have on a child's education. In one study six-year-olds in first grade got better results on achievement tests than six-year-olds in kindergaren. My parents sent me to private school so that I could go to kindergarten at an earlier age. My mom was against it, my dad was for it. It turns out, I didn't have much trouble adjusting despite the fact that I was several months longer than most of the kids. Thankfully I had good teachers! Though avoiding the age cutoff of our public school system didn't seem to hinder my performance in school, my mom jokes that this post-grad transition year I'm in is making up for lost time. I just keep on learning--from friends, family, and life in general...regardless of where I am.
I really like how our textbook compares and contrasts Vygotsky and Piaget's theories. I especially took note that Vygotsky regarded instruction as crucial. Just last week i was talking with an education major and she expressed frustration that they are being taught education theories that are not validated by research and in fact in conflict with not only her own observation but also research. She especially mentioned how they are being taught to let the child explore and discover on their own rather than giving direct instruction. Personally i think both are very important. Her argument was that children need to be taught basic facts (that they are extremely unlikely to discover on their own) as a foundation for further exploration.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you in most learning occurring outside of school. I was home schooled and my parents often commented that all of life is learning. I'm grateful now for the privilege of going to school, as there are some things that are much easier to grasp if someone explains them to you, rather than figuring it out on your own. One of the reasons i think more learning occurs outside of school than in school is much of the effort that people put in at school is about the grade whereas outside of school it's about learning what you need to know to accomplish something. I entered college highly motivated to learn, and gradually overtime I've found myself becoming more and more interested in the grade and less interested in the learning. I try and remind myself that the classes i take is all about equipping me to do my life work well.