Module 1 - Activity 5

Emmy Werner's findings from her research has taught me that there is a need for me, as a teacher, to be a more compassionate person. Students learn differently, not only because of how they are 'wired' intellectually, but also because of their backgrounds. In my experience, I have met many 'high-risk' students, as well as those who were 'resilient'. This article has helped me to recognize that I must create a sense of security or stability that would benefit ALL the students. Those who have reasonably good backgrounds would be motivated, and those from 'vulnerable' backgrounds would have somewhere to feel safe. This would increase their passion for learning, where sometimes that passion is absent in the home. I have therefore come to the conclusion that school is an extension of the home, and teachers have a huge responsibility to establish a caring environment within the classroom. This is critical for stimulating learning in ALL students.

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Module 1 Activity 2

Having completed the three exercises in the Self-Activity, I have to realization of two very important issues involved in students' meaningful learning:

1. Based on how the cognitive processes work, students must consistently interact with the material that they are meant to learn. In doing so, there stands are greater chance for retention. It was easy for me to remember what was on the coin, because I have been using coins on a very regular basis for most of my life. In the same way, if I consistently allow students to use the material that they are introduced to in class, there stands a great opportunity for them to be able to maintain it in their long term memory. In my case, vocabulary expressions must be constantly used in writing and speaking.
2. Also, material must be organized in a manner with which students can identify and even fit into what they already know. This would ensure that they would quickly respond to it, and try to find creative ways of retaining it. For example, in a French grammar lesson: verb conjugation in the present tense,  students are given the endings of the verbs in a mnemonic. Then, it makes it easier for them to retain, and in a subtle way, it is etched on their schema.

Additionally, once we provide students with adequate interaction within the learning environment, this would allow them to utilize their metacognitive skills. I also, believe that we must model these skills, until students are able to use them effectively on their own.

This activity really restored my gratitude to Jean Piaget for enlightening us about information processing.

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Module 1: Activity 1

In this activity, the work of Whitaker has caused me to seriously reevaluate my role as an educator. Along with his thoughts, my colleagues have reminded me of some areas of focus that I needed to recall. I will list below, the most powerful lessons of this activity:

1. Day and Baskett's guidelines have caused me to seriously reflect on my role in the learning process. Of particular importance is guidelines 2:that participants and teachers should engage in a reciprocal relationship, 4: action and reflection are pivotal parts of the learning process, 8: intrinsic motivation, and 9: teachers should promote and maintain a climate of critical thinking.

2. Learning from experience is influenced by the age and level of difficulty of the experience.

3. The process of learning is influenced by the personality of the learner, how well the learners' ambitions are incorporated into the learning experience, the fulfillment of learner needs, the relationship between teachers and learners and learners and learners, the networking within the learning environment, the fostering of the value of education, the promotion of good behaviour and proper choices, and the provision of opportunites for the expression of various learning experiences.

Also, the comments on reflective practice and establishing Communities of practice from  my colleagues have re-ignited my passion for further development as a teacher.


These lessons have impacted my thoughts and will influence my actions.


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