Chapter 6 & 7: How People Learn

How People Learn
Chapter 6 & 7
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1. How does this topic fit into what I have learned already in this course?

These chapters focused on different learning environments such as learner, knowledge, assessment, and community based learning environments. Each of these describes how teachers can design lessons and utilize different approaches to reach diverse learners. Each of the characteristics supports a cognitive concept that we have studied within the cognition book, such as various aspects of memory, and applying different strategies to reach different students. Other cognitive approaches that I was able to relate to these learning environments include deductive reasoning, problem solving, communication and language, creativity, all of which we have discussed this semester in the Cognition book.

2. What am I still not clear on in this week's reading(s)?

The idea of the “mile wide, inch deep” curriculum makes sense to me. We are expected to cover so much material in the time period we have with our students. It is impossible to cover each area in the depth that will help provide full comprehension for children. It did surprise me to know the teaching styles in Japan are teacher centered, I always thought that their whole idea behind education was in the community centered environment, where children learn by working in groups.


3. Under what conditions would I apply this material to my own teaching/work?

I have learned valuable information about different teaching approaches in Chapter 6 and 7. I have come to recognize which one I utilize the most in my classroom and which ones I could maybe implement more of in order to benefit my students. I also now recognize the advantages of each of the approaches and how I can find a way to implement them within my own classroom.