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.

Utica