Educ 312 Prelim Module
Educ 312 Prelim Module
Educ 312 Prelim Module
LEARNING MODULE
FOR
EDUC 312: FACILITATING LEARNER-CENTERED TEACHING
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WEEK 1
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Overview:
This course explores the fundamental principles and practices anchored on learner-centeredness
and other educational psychologies as theses apply to facilitate various teaching-learning delivery
modes to enhance learning.
Objectives:
a. analyze the context, content and perspective of different theories of facilitating learner-centered
teaching;
b. demonstrates understanding of learner-centered psychological principles;
c. apply the different theories related to the learners developmen t; and its implications to teaching;
d. write reflection paper on selected topic related to facilitating learning;
e. give an in-depth explanation of learning theories in facilitating learning;
f. develop awareness on the issues of student’s diversity and multiple intelligences.
Each chapter in this module contains a major lesson involving the facilitating learner-centered
teaching. The units are characterized by continuity, and are arranged in such a manner that the present
unit is related to the next unit. For this reason, you are advised to read this module. After each unit,
there are exercises to be given. Submission of task given will be every Tuesday during your scheduled
class hour.
VISION
A premier institution that provides quality education and globally empowered individuals.
MISSION
Core Values
Service
Excellence
Accountability
Innovation
Teamwork
The school was named SOUTH EAST ASIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, INC. or SEAIT. The
name was anchored in the vision offering quality education to impact not only in the region but also in
the South East Asian countries. At first, the school offered Computer Programming NC -IV and
Computer Hardware Servicing NC II. With respective certificates from the TESDA XII, SEAIT offered
Computer Programming NC-IV and Computer Hardware Servicing NC-I in 2006. After a year, Hotel and
Restaurant Management was added to its program offerings.
The couple manage to upgrade SEAIT in 2008. They added BSIT with very affordable tuition and
other fees per semester. As the year past, SEAIT continue to grow and offered more courses until today.
It also provided assistance and scholarship grants from Tulong-Dunong and CHED to help the youth in
the municipality value affordable and quality education. And in 2016, the Universal Financial Assistance
for Tertiary Education (UNIFAST) became an “amazing come on among higher education institutions,
including SEAIT, in the region.
As an educational institution, SEAIT has existed for 15 years. It has graduated 12 batches in college.
It is known for its Information Technology niche as this is the field of specialization of the founder and
co-founder. It is also known for its Civil Engineering program as this is the field of specialization of the
parents of the founder and the current president.
ACADEMIC POLICIES
A. Academic Rights: Every students has the right to receive competent instruction and relevant
quality education.
B. General Enrolment Procedures: All prospective students with their necessary credentials must
enroll during the prescribed registration period. To facilitate registration, students should read
guidelines posted online via SEAIT official page or on the bulletin board and be guided by the
registration procedures.
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C. Class Attendance: Every student is required prompt and regular attendance. Tardiness and
absences are recorded from the first day of classes. There is a corresponding sanction with a
multiple absences or tardiness.
D. Examination and Grading System: There are 3 major examinations administered every
semester, namely Prelim, Midterm, and Final Examination. The registrar determines the
schedule of the major examination. Grading System: 40% Quizzes; 20% Class Standing; 40%
Examination.
E. Graduating with Latin Honors: The office of the Registrar in close coordination with the Office
of the Vice President for Academics shall determine and recommend to the administrator a
student who completes his baccalaureate degree with honors provided with standard
qualifications.
F. Student Fees: Includes the registration and other fees.
NON-ACADEMIC POLICIES
A. Code of Discipline for Students: The rules and regulations of the institution are intended to
maintain the order necessary for an academic environment and to ensure an atmosphere
conducive to the formation of values for men and women and for others.
B. School Identification Card (SID): SID cards will be issued and validated by the SAO upon
enrolment. Student is required to wear his SID card at all times while he is within the school
premises.
C. Uniforms/Dress Code: The school uniform must be worn with respect and dignity. Only
students wearing the prescribed uniform will be allowed to enter the school premises and the
classroom.
Prescribed haircut for Criminology students: Female- 2/3 (hairnet shall be used to those who don’t
want to cut their hair; Male- 2/0
Classroom Policies
1. Awareness of intended audience
(e.g., classes are meant for students currently enrolled in the course and you must not enter or
share a class meeting with someone.
2. General
(e.g., mute microphones when not speaking, raised hand virtually to ask a question, turn, off
camera if you’re stepping away)
3. Discussion
(e.g., you can disagree with others but should do respectfully and constructively)
4. Privacy
(e.g., students should consult with the instructor to receive permission to)
Flavell further divides metacognitive knowledge into three categories: knowledge of person
variables, task variables and strategy variables.
Person Variables.
This includes how one views himself as a learner and thinker. Knowledge of person variables refers
to knowledge about how human beings learn and process information, as well as individual knowledge
of one's own learning processes. For example, you may be aware that you study more effectively if you
study very early 1n the morning than late in the evening, and that you work better in a. quiet library
rather than at home where there are a lot of things that make it hard for you to focus and
Concentrate.
Task Variables.
Knowledge of task variables includes knowledge about the nature of the task as well as the type of
processing demands that it will place upon the individual. It is about knowing what exactly needs to be
accomplished, gauging its difficulty and knowing the kind of effort it will demand from you. For example,
you may be aware that it takes more time for you to read and comprehend a book in educational
philosophy than it is for you to read and comprehend a novel.
Strategy Variables.
Knowledge of strategy variables involves awareness of the strategy you are using to learn a topic
and evaluating whether this strategy is effective. If you think your strategy is not working, then you may
think of various strategies and try out one to see if it will help you learn better. Terms like meta-attention
and meta-memory are related to strategy variables. Meta-attention is the awareness of specific
strategies so that you can keep your attention focused on the topic or task at hand. Meta-memory is
your awareness of memory strategies that work best for you.
These three variables all interact as you learn and apply metacognition. Omrod includes the
following in the practice of metacogniton:
• Knowing the limits of one's own learning and memory capacities
• Knowing what learning tasks one can realistically accomplish within a certain amount of time
• Knowing which learning strategies are effective and which are not
• Planning an approach to a learning task that is likely to be successful
• Using effective learning strategies to process and learn new material
• Monitoring one's own knowledge and comprehension. In other words, knowing when
information has been successfully learned and when it's not
• Using effective strategies for retrieval of previously stored information
• Knowledge is said to be metacognitive if it is keenly used in a purposeful manner to ensure
that a goal is met. For example, a student may use knowledge in planning how to do
homework: "I know that I (person variable) have more difficulty with my science assignments
than English and find Araling Panlipunan easier (task variable), so I will do my homework in
science first, then Language Arts, then Araling Panlipunan. (strategy variable). If one is only
aware about one's cognitive strengths or weaknesses and the nature of the task but does
not use 'this to guide or oversee his/her own learning, then no metacognition has been
applied.
Huitt believes that metacognition includes the ability to ask and answer the following types of questions:
• What do I know about this subject, topic, issue?
• Do I know what I need to know?
• Do I know where I can go to get some information, knowledge?
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• How much time will I need to learn this?
• What are some strategies and tactics that I can use to learn this?
• Did I understand what I just heard, read or saw?
• How will I know if I am learning at an appropriate rate?
• How can I spot an error if I make one?
• How should I revise my plan if it is not working to my expectations/satisfaction?
The challenge then to future teachers like you is to integrate more activities that would build the
students' capacity to reflect on their own characteristics as learners (self-knowledge), the tasks they
are to do (task knowledge) and the strategies that they can use to learn (strategic knowledge).
Remember, metacognition is like any other thing you will teach. Metacognition involves knowledge
and skills which you and your students can learn and master.
1. Have students monitor their own learning and thinking. (Example: have a student monitor a peer's
learning/thinking/behaving in dyad)
T is for Tune in. It is first important for the learner himself to be aware that he is paying attention, and
that he is ready to learn.
Q is for Question. The learner is given questions, or he thinks of questions about what he will soon
learn.
L is for Listen. The learner then intentionally exerts effort to listen. He becomes aware if he is
momentarily detracted and goes back to listen again.
R is for Remember. The learner uses ways or strategies to remember what was learned.
PQ4R -This is usually for older students in the intermediate levels and onwards. This strategy is used
to study a unit or chapter.
P. -Preview. Scan the whole chapter before delving on paragraph. Check out the objectives. Look for
outlines or advance organizers that will give you an idea about the important topics and ideas in the
chapter. Read the summary of the chapter first. (But please don't stop at the summary alone. No. No.
No. This is not a good idea at all.
Q-Question. Read the guide questions provided or think of your own questions about the topic.
R- Read. Check out subheadings as you read. Pay attention on words that are printed in bold or
italicized. Find out the meaning of words that are not clear to you. Use a marker or colored pencil to
highlight important words or phrases. (Do not highlight the whole paragraph!)
R- Review. Pinpoint topics you may need to go back to and read in order to understand better.
3. Have students make predictions about information to be presented next based on what they have
read.
4. Have students relate ideas to existing knowledge structures. (It is important to have relevant
knowledge structures well learned.)
5. Have students develop questions; ask questions of themselves, about what's going on around them
(Have you asked a good question today?)
6. Help students to know when to ask for help. (He/she must be able to self-monitor; require students
to show how they have attempted to deal with the problem of their own.)
7. Show students how to transfer knowledge, attitudes, values, skills to other situations or tasks.
The Table below shows the difference between a novice learner and an expert learner.
Direction: Read and understand this module. Provide what is being asked. Write your answer in a
long bond paper (Hand written).
TASKS:
1. Written exercises. (50 points)
Instruction: Research online of teaching strategies that develop metacognition. List down at least 10
metacognitive strategies. Write its definition and state the benefit of using it to make learning more
effective and efficient. Organize your work using a sample table below.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
End of Week 1
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The 14 principles are divided into those referring to (1) cognitive and metacognitive, (2) motivational
and affective, (3) developmental and social, and (4) individual difference factors influencing learners
and learning. Finally, the principles are intended to apply to all learners - from children, to teachers, to
administrators, to parents, and to community members involved in our educational system.
• To construct useful representations of knowledge and to acquire the thinking and learning
strategies necessary for continued learning success across the life span, students must
generate and pursue personally relevant goals. Initially, students" short-term goals and learning
may be sketchy in an area, but over time their understanding can be refined by filling gaps,
resolving inconsistencies, and deepening their understanding of the subject matter so that they
can reach longer-term goals.
• Educators can assist learners in creating meaningful learning goals that are consistent with both
personal and educational aspirations and interests
3. Construction of knowledge
The successful learner can link new information with existing knowledge in meaningful
ways.
• Knowledge widens and deepens as students continue to build links between new information
and experiences and their existing knowledge base. The nature of these links can take a variety
of forms, such as adding to, modifying, or reorganizing existing knowledge or skills. How these
links are made or develop may vary in different ‘subject areas, and among students with varying
talents, interests, and abilities. However, unless new knowledge becomes integrated with the
learner's prior knowledge and understanding, this. New knowledge remains isolated, cannot be
used most effectively in new tasks, and does not transfer readily to new situations.
• Educators can assist learners in acquiring and integrating knowledge by a number of strategies
that have been shown to be effective with learners of varying abilities, such as concept mapping
and thematic organization or categorizing.
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4. Strategic thinking
The successful learner can create and use a repertoire of thinking and reasoning strategies
to achieve complex learning goals.
• Successful learners use strategic thinking in their approach to learning, reasoning, problem
solving, and concept learning.
• They understand and can use a variety of strategies to help them reach learning and
performance goals, and to apply their knowledge in novel situations:
• They also continue to expand their repertoire of strategies by reflecting on the methods they use
to see which work well for them, by receiving guided instruction and feedback, and by
observing or interacting with appropriate models. Learning outcomes can be enhanced if
educators assist learners in developing, applying, and assessing their strategic learning
skills.
6. Context of learning
Learning is influenced by environmental factors, including culture, technology, and
instructional practices.
• Learning does not occur in a vacuum. Teachers play a major interactive role with both the learner
and the learning environment
• Cultural or group influences on students can impact many educationally relevant variabl es, such
as motivation, orientation toward learning, and ways of thinking,
• Technologies and instructional practices must be appropriate for learners' level of prior
knowledge, cognitive abilities, and their learning and thinking strategies.
• The classroom environment, particularly the degree to which it is nurturing or not, can also have
significant impacts on student learning.
2. Strategic processing and control. Learners can develop skills to reflect and regulate their thoughts
and behaviors in order to learn more effectively (metacognition).
3. Motivation and affect. Factors such as intrinsic motivation (from within), reasons for wanting to
learn, personal goals and enjoyment of learning tasks all have a crucial role in the learning process.
4. Development and Individual Differences. Learning is a unique journey for each person because
each learner has his own unique combination of genetic and environmental factors that influence him.
5. Situation or context. Leaning happens in the context of a society as well as within an individual.
ACTIVITY # 2
Direction: Read and understand this module. Provide what is being asked. Write your answer in a
long bond paper (Handwritten).
TASKS:
1. Infographic: (60 points).
Instruction: Cite important concepts of the 14 learner centered psychological principles using an
advance organizer. Give a brief explanation on how these principles aid towards success of the
teaching and learning process.
End of Week 2
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Piaget said, "The principle goal of education in the schools should be creating men
and women who are capable of doing new things, not simply repeating what other
generations have done." Piaget's theory centered on the stages of cognitive
development. He described four stages of cognitive development, namely the
sensory-motor, pre-operational, concrete-operational and formal operational
stages. Each has characteristic ways of thinking and perceiving that shows how
one's cognitive abilities develop.
Vygotsky said, "The teacher must orient his work not on yesterday’s development
in the child but on tomorrow's." Vygotsky emphasized the role of social interaction
in learning and development. Scaffolding is the systematic manner of providing
assistance to the learner that helps the learner to effectively acquire a skill. He
believed that guidance from a more knowledgeable other (MKO) would lead a
learner to a higher level of performance than if he were alone. This higher level of
performance then eventually becomes the learner's actual performance when he
works independently in the future. His concept of zone of proximal development
(ZPD) illustrates this.
STUDENT DIVERSITY
Individual Differences
You’ve probably heard someone say,
"Everyone is unique." Though it sounds really
like a cliché, one cannot ignore the truth in it. As
a facilitator of learning, the teacher is tasked to
consider the individual differences among the
students in planning for effective instruction.
1.Socioeconomic status - The millionaires’ lifestyle differs from that of the middle income or
lower income group.
2. Thinking! learning style -Some of you learn better by seeing Something others by just
listening; and still others by manipulating something.
3. Exceptionalities - In class there maybe one who has difficulty in spoken language
comprehension or in seeing, hearing, etc.
2. Student diversity contributes to cognitive development. The opportunity to gain access to the
perspectives of peers and to learn from other students, rather than the instructor only, may be especially
important for promoting the cognitive development of learners. Supreme Court Justice, William J.
Brennan said: "The classroom is peculiarly the 'marketplace of ideas. The depth and breadth of student
learning are enhanced by exposure to others from diverse backgrounds. Student diversity in the
classroom brings about different points of view and varied approaches to the learning process.
As the German philosopher, Nietzsche, said over 100 years ago: "The more affects we allow to speak
about one thing, the more eyes, different eyes we can use to observe one thing, the more complete will
our concept of this thing, our objectivity, be.”
3. Student diversity prepares learners for their role as responsible members of society.
Suzanne Morse stresses one competency that has strong implications for instructional strategies that
capitalize on diversity: "The capacity to imagine situations or problems from all perspectives and to
appreciate all aspects of diversity". Furthermore, she argues: "The classroom can provide more than
just theory given by the teacher in a lecture. With student diversity, the classroom becomes a public
place' where community can be practiced.
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4. Student diversity can promote harmony. When student diversity is integrated into the classroom
teaching and learning process, it can become a vehicle for promoting harmonious race relations.
Through student-centered teaching strategies, diverse students can be encouraged to interact and
collaborate with one another on learning tasks that emphasize-unity of effort while capitalizing on their
diversity of backgrounds.
2. Integrate learning experiences and activities which promote students multicultural and cross-
cultural awareness.
▪ You can encourage or even initiate co-curricular experiences that are aimed at promoting
diversity awareness. These activities could be held to coincide with already-scheduled national
weeks or months which are designated for appreciation of diverse groups: Disability Awareness
Week, Linggo ng Wika, Indigenous People's Week, etc.
▪ Let students interview other students on campus who are from diverse backgrounds (foreign
students or students from other ethnic/racial groups). These students of different racial and
ethnic origin serve as source of first-hand information on topics related to their culture. This can
also provide opportunity for interaction among students who may otherwise never come in
contact with each other
▪ Invite students to Internet discussion groups or -mail; have students "visit" foreign countries and
"talk" to natives of those countries.
▪ Ask students if they have ever been the personal target or prejudice or discrimination and have
them share these experiences with other members of the class.
3. Aside from highlighting diversity, identify patterns of unity that transcend group differences.
Clyde Kluckholn, an early American anthropologist who spent lifetime studying human diversity across
different cultures, concluded from his extensive research that, "Every human is, at the same time, like
all other humans, like some humans, and like no other human (Cited in Wong, 1991). His observation
suggests a paradox in the human experience, namely: We are all the same in different ways.
It may be important to point out to students the biological reality that we, human beings, share
approximately 95% of our genes in common, and that less than 5% of our genes account for the
physical differences that exist among us. When focusing on human differences, these commonalities
should not be overlooked; otherwise, our repeated attempts to promote student diversity may
inadvertently promote, student divisiveness. One way to minimize this risk, and promote unity along
with diversity, is to stress the universality" of the learning experience by raising students' consciousness
of common themes that bind all groups of people-in addition to highlighting the variations on those
themes.
▪ Try to form groups of students who are different with respect to one demographic characteristic
but similar with respect to another (e.g. similar gender but different with respect to race/ ethnicity
or similar in age but different gender). This practice can serve to increase student awareness
that humans who are members of different groups can, at the same time, be members of the
same group and share similar experiences, needs or concerns.
▪ After students have completed self-assessment instruments (e.g. learning style inventories or
personality profiles), have them line up or move to a corner of the room according to their
individual scores or overall profile. This practice can visibly demonstrate to students how
members of different student populations can be quite similar with respect to their learning styles
or personality profiles, i.e., students can see how individual similarities can often overshadow
group differences.
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4. Communicate high expectations to students from all subgroups.
▪ Make a conscious attempt to call on, or draw in students from diverse groups by using effective
questioning techniques that reliably elicit student involvement. In addition to consciously calling
on them in class, other strategies for "drawing in" and involving students include: (a) assigning
them the role of reporter in small-group discussions, i.e., the one who reports back them group's
ideas to the class, and (6) having them engaged in paired discussions with another classmate
with the stipulation that each partner must take turns assuming the role of both listener and
speaker, and (c) scheduling instructor-student conferences with them outside the classroom.
▪ Learn the names of your students, especially the foreign names that you may have difficulty
pronouncing. This will enable you to establish early personal rapport with them which can later
serve as a social/emotional foundation or springboard for encouraging them to participate.
6. Vary the examples you use to illustrate concepts in order to provide multiple contexts that
are relevant to students from diverse backgrounds.
Specific strategies for providing multiple examples and varied contexts that are relevant to their varied
backgrounds include the following:
▪ Have students complete personal information cards during the first week of class and use this
information to select examples or illustrations that are relevant to their personal interests and life
experiences
▪ Use ideas, comments and questions that students raise in class, or which they choose to write
about to help you think of examples and illustrations to use.
▪ Ask students to provide their own examples of concepts based on experiences drawn from their
personal lives.
▪ Have students apply concepts by placing them in a situation or context that is relevant to their
lives (e.g., "How would you show respect to all persons in your home?").
7. Adapt to the students' diverse backgrounds and learning styles by allowing them personal
choice and decision-making opportunities concerning what they will learn and how they will
learn it.
Giving the learner more decision-making opportunity with respect to learning tasks: (a) promotes
positive student attitudes toward the subject matter, (b) fosters more positive interactions among
students, and (c) results in students working more consistently with lesser teacher intervention. Also,
when individuals are allowed to exert some control over a task, they tend to experience less anxiety or
stress while performing that task.
ACTIVITY # 3
Discussion Points and Poster Making
Direction: Read and understand this module. Provide what is being asked. Write your answer in a
long bond paper (Hand written).
TASKS:
1. Written exercises. (30 points)
Instruction: Identify one concept from the theories reviewed and describe how this can be applied in
teaching and learning.
Theory/Concept Application
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
End of Week 3
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WEEK 4
LEARNING/THINKING STYLES AND MULTIPLE INTELLIGENCES WITH EXCEPTIONALITIES
Learning/Thinking Styles
Learning/Thinking styles refer to the preferred way an individual processes information. They
describe a person's typical mode of thinking, remembering or problem solving. Furthermore, styles are
usually considered to be bipolar dimensions. For instance, your particular learning/thinking style would
lie at a point in a continuum. Having a particular learning/thinking style simply denotes a tendency to
behave in a certain manner. Your style is usually described as a personality dimension which influences
your attitudes, values and social interaction.
There are several perspectives about learning-thinking styles. We shall focus on sensory
preferences and the global-analytic continuum.
Sensory Preferences. Individuals tend to gravitate toward one or two types of sensory input and
maintain a dominance in one of the following types:
Visual Learners. These learners must see their teacher's actions and facial expressions to fully
understand the content of a lesson. They tend to prefer sitting in front so no one would block their view.
They may think in pictures and learn best from visual aids including: diagrams, illustrated text books,
overhead transparencies, videos, flipcharts and hand-outs. During a lecture or classroom discussion,
visual learners often prefer to take detailed notes to absorb the information.
Visual-iconic. Those who prefer this form of input are interested in visual imagery such as film,
graphic displays, or pictures in order to solidify learning. They usually have good "picture
memory," a.k.a. iconic imagery and attend to pictorial detail. They would like to read a map
better than to read a book.
Visual-symbolic. Those who prefer this form of input feel comfortable with abstract symbolism
such as mathematical formulae or the written word. They would prefer to read a book than a map
and would like to read about things than hear about them. They tend to be good abstract
thinkers who do not require practical means for learning.
Auditory Learners. They learn best through verbal lectures, discussions, talking things through and
listening to what others have to say. Auditory learners interpret the underlying meanings of speech
through listening to tone of voice, pitch, speed and other nuances. Written information may have little
meaning until it is heard. These learners often benefit from reading text aloud and using a tape recorder.
They can attend aurally to details, translate the spoken word easily into the written word, and are not
easily distracted in their listening ability.
Global. Global thinkers lean towards non-linear thought and tend to see the whole pattern rather
than particle elements. They are the "forest seers who give attention only to the overall
structure and sometimes ignore details.
Several theorists have tied the global-analytic continuum to the left-brain/right-brain continuum. In
accord with Roger Sperry's model, the left-brained dominant individual is portrayed as the linear
(analytic), verbal, mathematical thinker while the right-brained person is one who is viewed as global,
non-linear and holistic in thought preferences.
Both sides of the brain can reason but through different strategies in an individual, one side may
be more dominant than the other. The left brain is regarded as analytic in approach while the right is
described as holistic or global. A successive processor (left brain) prefers to learn in a step-by-step
sequential format, beginning with details leading to a conceptual understanding of a skill. A
simultaneous processor (right brain) prefers to learn beginning with the general concept and then going
on to specifics. See the comparison on next page:
Multiple Intelligences
The theory of multiple intelligences (MI) was first
described by Howard Gardner in Frames of Mind
(1983). Gardner defines intelligence as "an ability or
set of abilities that allows a person to solve a problem
or fashion a product that is valued in one or more
cultures". Gardner believes that different intelligences
may be independent abilities -a person can be low in
one domain area but high in another. All of us
possess the intelligences but in varying degrees of
strength.
Verbal/Linguistic (Word Smart) learning through the spoken and written word. This intelligence
is always valued in the traditional classroom and in traditional assessments of intelligence and
achievement.
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Mathematical/Logical (Number Smart/Logic Smart) – learning through reasoning and problem
solving. Also highly valued in the traditional classroom where students are asked to adapt to
logically sequenced delivery of instruction.
Bodily/Kinesthetic (Body Smart) learning through interaction with environment. This intelligence
is the domain of overly active" learners. It promotes understanding through concrete experience.
(Music Smart)- Learning through patterns, rhythms and music. This includes not only auditory
learning but also the identification of patterns through all the senses.
Intrapersonal (Self Smart) - learning through feelings, values and attitudes. This is a decidedly
affective component of learning through which students place value on what they learn and take
ownership for their learning.
Interpersonal (People Smart) - learning through interaction with others. Not the domain of
children who are simply "talkative" or overly social." This intelligence promotes collaboration and
working cooperatively with others.
Naturalist (Nature Smart) learning through classification, categories and hierarchies. The
naturalist intelligence picks up on subtle differences in meaning. It is not simply the study of nature;
it can be used in all areas of study.
Existential (Spirit Smart) - learning by seeing the "big picture": "Why are we here?" "What is my
role, in the world?"" **What is my place in my family, school and community?" This intelligence
seeks connections to real world understanding and application of new learning.
It is important for teachers to use their knowledge about thinking/learning style and multiple
intelligences in planning activities to help their students learn effectively. While researches on these
typologies continue, it is clear that the teachers can no longer just teach the text book. It is a
sensible practice to teach each child according to his/her thinking/learning styles and multiple
intelligence.
Handicap. The word handicap does not have the same meaning as disability. A handicap is a
disadvantage that occurs as a result of a disability or impairment. The degree of disadvantage (or the
extent of the handicap) is often dependent on the adjustment made by both the person and his
environment. Therefore, the extent to which a disability handicaps an individual can vary greatly. Two
persons may have the same disability but not the same degree of being handicapped. For example,
they both have a hearing impairment, one knows sign language and can read lips while the other cannot.
The first individual would not have as much handicap as the second one. Another example, two persons
who move around on a wheel chair, the one studying in a school campus with wheelchair accessibility
in all areas would be less handicapped than one in a school without wheel chair accessibility.
Categories of Exceptionalities
There are different ways of presenting categories of exceptionalities. Special education
practitioners would have varying terms and categories. For this short introduction of categories, we are
basing it on the categories found in Omrod's Educational Psychology (2000).
Learning Disabilities
Learning disabilities involve difficulties in specific cognitive processes like perception, language,
memory or metacognition that are not due to other disabilities like mental retardation, emotional or
behavioral disorders, or sensory impairments. Examples of learning disabilities include dyslexia
(reading), dyscalculia (number operations) and dysgraphia (writing).
Mental Retardation. Mental retardation refers to significant sub- average intelligence and deficits
in adaptive behavior. There is difficulty in managing activities of daily living and in conducting
themselves appropriately in social situations.
Emotional/Conduct Disorders. This involves the presence of emotional states like depression
and aggression over a considerable amount of time that they notably disturb learning and
performance in school.
Physical and health impairments. This involves physical or medical conditions (usually long-
term) including one or more of these: (1) limited energy and strength, (2) reduced mental
alertness, and/or (3) little muscle control.
Sensory Impairments
Visual lmpairments. These are conditions when there is malfunction of the eyes or optic nerves
that prevent normal vision even with corrective lenses.
Hearing Impairments. These involve malfunction of the ear or auditory nerves that hinders
perception of sounds within the frequency range of normal speech.
Giftedness
Giftedness. This involves a significantly high level of cognitive development. There is unusually
high ability or aptitude in one or more of these aspects: intellectual ability, aptitude in academic
subjects, creativity, visual or performing arts or leadership.
People-First Language
What is People-First Language? Just as the term would imply this language trend involves putting
the person first, not the disability (e.g., a person with a disability, not a disabled person). Thus, people-
first language tells us what conditions people have, not what they are (Schiefelbusch Institute, 1996).
This is similar to saying "person with AIDS, rather than "AIDS victim". Other suggestions for referring
to those with disabilities include:
▪ avoiding generic labels (people with mental retardation is preferable to the mentally retarded);
▪ emphasizing abilities, not limitations (for instance, uses a wheelchair is preferable to confined to
a wheelchair);
▪ avoiding implying illness or suffering (had polio is preferable to is a polio victim, and has multiple
sclerosis is preferable to suffers from multiple sclerosis) (Department of Physical Medicine and
Rehabilitation, 2000; Schiefelbusch Institute, 1996).
Using people-first language and applying the guidelines above will remind you to have a more
respectful and accepting attitude toward a learners with exceptionalities. The presence of impairments
requires them to exert more effort to do things that others like us find quite easy to do. They are learners
who may turn to you for assistance. Beginning with the right attitude, one of compassion (not of pity nor
ridicule), will make you a more effective teacher, one with the hand and the heart who can facilitate
their learning and adjustment.
Direction: Read and understand this module. Provide what is being asked. Write your answer in a
long bond paper (Hand written).
Tasks:
1. Learning Activity Plan. (30 points)
Instruction: Choose a topic from your field of specialization. Think of at least ten learning activities
relevant to the topic you picked. Indicate the thinking/learning styles and multiple intelligences that
each learning activity can address. Remember, a learning activity my address both thinking/learning
style and multiple intelligence. Refer to the template below.
End of Week 4
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Behaviorism
Ivan Pavlov, a Russian physiologist, is well known for his work in classical
conditioning or stimulus substitution. Pavlov's most renowned experiment involved
meat, a dog and a bell. Initially, Pavlov was measuring the dog's salivation in order
to study digestion. This is when he stumbled upon classical conditioning.
Extinction. If you stop pairing the bell with the food, salivation will eventually cease in response
to the bell.
Spontaneous Recovery. Extinguished responses can be "recovered" after an elapsed time, but
will soon extinguish again if the dog is not presented with food.
Discrimination. The dog could learn to discriminate between similar bells (stimuli) and discern
which bell would result in the presentation of food and which would not.
Higher-Order Conditioning. Once the dog has been conditioned to associate the bell with food,
another unconditioned stimulus, such as a light may be flashed at the same time that the bell
is rung. Eventually, the dog will salivate at the flash of the light without the sound of the bell.
Edward L. Thorndike
Thorndike's theory on connectionism, states that learning has taken place when a strong
connection or bond between stimulus and response is formed. He came up with three primary laws:
Law of Effect. The law of effect states that a connection between a stimulus and response is
strengthened when the consequence is positive (reward) and the connection between the stimulus
and the response is weakened when the consequence is negative. Thorndike later on, revised this
"law" when he found that negative rewards (punishment) do not necessarily weaken bonds, and
that some seemingly pleasurable consequences do not necessarily motivate performance.
Law of Exercise. This tells us that the more an S-R (stimulus-response) bond is practiced the
stronger it will become. "Practice makes perfect" seem to be associated with this. However. Like
the law of effect, the law of exercise also had to be revised when. Thorndike found that practice
without feedback does not necessarily enhance performance.
Law of Readiness. This states that the more readiness the learner has to respond to the stimulus,
the stronger will be the bond between them when a person is ready to respond to a stimulus and is not
made to respond, it becomes annoying to the person. For example, if the teacher says, "Okay we will
now watch the movie (stimulus) you've been waiting for." And suddenly the power goes off. The students
will feel frustrated because they were ready to respond to the stimulus but was prevented from doing
so. Likewise, if the person is not at all ready to respond to a stimuli and is asked to respond, that also
becomes annoying. For instance, the teacher calls a student to stand up and recite, and then the
teacher asks the question and expects the student to respond right away when he is still not ready. This
will be annoying to the student. That is why teachers should remember to say the question first, and
wait for a few seconds before calling on anyone to answer.
John Watson
John B. Watson was the first American psychologist to work with Pavlov's ideas.
He too was initially involved in animal studies, then later became involved in
human behavior research.
He considered that humans are born with a few reflexes and the emotional
reactions of love and rage. All other behavior is learned through stimulus-
response associations through conditioning. He believed in the power of
conditioning so much that he said that if he is given a dozen healthy infants he
can make them into anything you want them to be, basically through making
stimulus-response connections through conditioning.
Experiment on Albert. Watson applied classical conditioning in his experiment concerning Albert,
a young child and a white rat. In the beginning, Albert was not afraid of the rat; but Watson made a
sudden loud noise each time Albert touched the rat. Because Albert was frightened by the loud noise,
he soon became conditioned to fear and avoid the rat. Later, the child's response was generalized to
other small animals. Now, he was also afraid of small animals. Watson then extinguished" or made the
child "unlearn" fear by showing the rat without the loud noise, Surely, Watson's research methods would
be questioned today; nevertheless, his work did clearly show the role of conditioning in the development
of emotional responses to certain stimuli. This may help us understand the fears, phobias and
prejudices that people develop.
Skinner's work differs from that of the three behaviorists before him in that he
studied operant behavior (voluntary behaviors used in operating on the environment). Thus, his theory
came to be known as Operant Conditioning.
Operant Conditioning is based upon the notion that learning is a result of change in overt behavior.
Changes in behavior are the result of an individual's response to events (stimuli) that occur in the
environment. A response produces a consequence such as defining a word, hitting a ball, or solving a
math problem. When a particular Stimulus-Response (S-R) pattern is reinforced (rewarded),
the individual is conditioned to respond.
Reinforcement is the key element in Skinner's S-R theory. A reinforcer is anything that
strengthens the desired response. There is a positive reinforcer and a negative reinforcer.
A positive reinforcer is any stimulus that is given or added to increase the response. An example
of positive reinforcement is when a teacher promises extra time in the play area to children who
behave well during the lesson. Another is a mother who promises a new cell phone for her son
who gets good grades. Still, other examples include verbal praises, star, stamps and stickers.
A negative reinforcer is any stimulus that results in the increased frequency of a response when
it is withdrawn or removed. A negative reinforcer is not a punishment, in fact it is a reward. For
instance, a teacher announces that a student who gets an average grade of 1.5 for the two
grading periods will no longer take the final examination. The negative reinforcer is "removing" the
final exam, which we realize is a form of reward for working hard and getting an average grade
of 1.5.
Skinner also looked into extinction or non-reinforcement: Responses that are not reinforced are
not likely to be repeated. For example, ignoring a student's misbehavior may extinguish that
behavior.
Shaping of Behavior. An animal on a cage may take a very long time to figure out that pressing a
lever will produce food. To accomplish such behavior, successive approximations of the behavior
are rewarded until the animal learns the association between the lever and the food reward. To
begin shaping, the animal may rewarded for simply turning in the direction of the lever, then for
moving toward the lever, for brushing against the lever, and finally for pressing the lever.
Behavioral chaining comes about when a series of steps are needed to be learned. The animal
would master each step in sequence until the entire sequence is learned. This can be applied to a
child being taught to tie a shoelace. The child can be given reinforcement (rewards) until the entire
process of tying the shoelace is learned.
Variable Interval Schedules. This is similar to fixed interval schedules but the amount of time that
must pass between reinforcement varies. Example, the bird may receive food (reinforcer) different
intervals, not every ten minutes
Fixed Ratio Schedules. A fixed number of correct responses must occur before reinforcement
may recur, Example, the bird will be given food (reinforcer) every time it presses the bar 5 times.
Variable Ratio Schedules. The number of correct repetitions of the correct response for
reinforcement varies. Example, the bird is given food (reinforcer) after t presses the bar 3 times,
then after 10 times, then after 4 times. So the bird will not be able to predict how many times it
needs to press the bar before it gets food again.
Variable interval and especially, variable ratio schedules produce steadier and more
persistent rates of response because the learners cannot predict when the reinforcement will
come although they know that they will eventually succeed. An example of this is why people
continue to buy lotto tickets even when an almost negligible percentage of people actually win.
While it is true that very rarely there is a big winner, but once in a while somebody hits the jackpot
(reinforcement). People cannot predict when the jackpot can be gotten (variable interval) so they
continue to buy tickets (repetition of response).
Implications of Operant Conditioning. These implications are given for programmed instruction.
1. Practice should take the form of question (stimulus) answer response) frames which expose the
student to the subject in gradual steps.
2. Require that the learner makes a response for every frame and receives immediate feedback.
3. Try to arrange the difficulty of the questions so the response is always correct and hence, a
positive reinforcement.
4. Ensure that good performance in the lesson is paired with secondary reinforcers such as verbal
praise, prizes and good grades.
Tolman believed that learning is a cognitive process. Learning involves forming beliefs and
obtaining knowledge about the environment and then revealing that knowledge through purposeful and
goal-directed behavior.
Tolman stated in his sign theory that an organism learns by pursuing signs to a goal, i.e., learning
is acquired through meaningful behavior. He stressed the organized aspect of 1earning: "The stimuli
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which are allowed in are not connected by just simple one-to-one switches to the outgoing responses.
Rather the incoming impulses are usually worked over and elaborated in the central control room into
a tentative cognitive-like map of the environment. And it is this tentative map, indicating routes and
paths and environmental relationships, which finally determines what responses, if any, the animal will
finally make."
Tolman's form of behaviorism stressed the relationships between stimuli rather than stimulus-
response. Tolman said that a new stimulus (the sign) becomes associated with already meaningful
stimulus (the significate) through a series of pairings; there is no need for reinforcement in order to
establish a learning.
Cognitive maps in rats. In his most famous experiment, one group of rats was placed at random
starting locations in a maze but the food was always in the same location. Another group of rats had
the food placed in different locations which always required exactly the same pattern of turns from their
starting location. The group that had the food in the same location performed much better than the
other group, supposedly demonstrating that they had learned the location rather than a specific
sequence of turns. This is tendency to "learn location" signified that rats somehow formed cognitive
maps that help them perform well on the maze. He also found out that organisms will select the
shortest or easiest path to achieve a goal.
Applied in human learning, since a student passes by the same route going to school every day,
he acquires a cognitive map of the location of his school. So when transportation re-routing is done, he
can still figure out what turns to make to get to school the shortest or easiest way.
Latent Learning. Latent learning is a kind of learning that remains or stays with the individual until
needed. It is learning that is not outwardly manifested at once. According to Tolman it can exist even
without reinforcement. He demonstrated this in his rat experiments wherein rats apparently "learned
the maze" by forming cognitive maps of the maze, but manifested this knowledge of the maze only
when they needed to.
Applied in human learning, a two-year old always sees her dad operate the TV remote control and
observes how the TV is turned on or how channel is changed, and volume adjusted. After sometime,
the parents are surprised that on the first time that their daughter holds the remote control, she already
knows which buttons to press for what function. Through latent learning, the child knew the skills
beforehand, even though she has never done them before.
The concept of intervening variable. Intervening variables are variables that are not readily seen
but serve as determinants of behavior. Tolman believed that learning is mediated or is influenced by
expectations, perceptions, representations, needs and other internal or environmental variables.
Example, in his experiments with rats he found out that hunger was an intervening variable.
Reinforcement not essential for learning. Tolman concluded that reinforcement is not essential
for learning, although it provides an incentive for performance. In his studies, he observed that a rat
was able to acquire knowledge of the way through a maze, i.e., to develop a cognitive map, even in the
absence of reinforcement.
2. Learning can occur without a change in behavior. Behaviorists say that learning has to be
represented by a permanent change in behavior, in contrast social learning theorists say that
because people can learn through observation alone, their learning may not necessarily be shown
in their performance. Learning may or may not result in a behavior change.
3. Cognition plays a role in learning. Over the last 30 years, social learning theory has become
increasingly cognitive in its interpretation of human learning. Awareness and expectations of future
reinforcements or punishments can have a major effect on the behaviors that people exhibit.
4. Social learning theory can be considered a bridge or a transition between behaviorist learning
theories and cognitive learning theories.
People are often reinforced for modeling the behavior of others. Bandura suggested that the
environment also reinforces modeling. This is in several possible ways:
1. The observer is reinforced by the model. For example a student who changes dress to fit in
with a certain group of students has a strong likelihood of being accepted and thus reinforced by
that group.
2. The observer is reinforced by a third person. The observer might be modeling the actions of
someone else, for example, an outstanding class leader or student. The teacher notices this and
compliments and praises the observer for modeling such behavior thus reinforcing that behavior.
3. The imitated behavior itself leads to reinforcing consequences. Many behaviors that we learn
from others produce satisfying or reinforcing results. For example, a student in my multimedia
class could observe how the extra work a classmate does is fun. This student in turn would do the
same extra work and also experience enjoyment.
4. Consequences of the model's behavior affect the observer's behavior vicariously. This is
known as vicarious reinforcement. This is where the model is reinforced for a response and then
the observer shows an increase in that same response. Bandura illustrated this by having
students watch a film of a model hitting an inflated clown doll. One group of children saw the
model being praised for such action. Without being reinforced, the group of children began to also
hit the dol.
2. Reinforcement and punishment influence the extent to which an individual exhibits a behavior
that has been learned.
4. Reciprocal causation: Bandura proposed that behavior can influence both the environment and
the person. In fact each of these three variables, the person, the behavior, and the environment
can have an influence on each other.
5. Modeling: There are different types of models. There is the live model, an actual person
demonstrating the behavior. There can also be a symbolic model, which can be a person or
action portrayed in some other medium, such as television, videotape, computer programs.
2. Retention- The observer must be able to remember the behavior that has been observed.
One way of increasing this is using the technique of rehearsal.
3. Motor reproduction- The third condition is the ability to replicate the behavior that the model
has just demonstrated. This means that the observer has to be able to replicate the action, which
could be a, problem with a learner who is not ready developmentally to replicate the action. For
example, little children have difficulty doing complex physical motion.
4. Motivation. The final necessary ingredient for modeling to occur is motivation. Learners must
want to demonstrate what they have learned. Remember that since these four conditions vary
among individuals, different people will reproduce the same behavior differently.
2. Describing the consequences of behavior can effectively increase the appropriate behaviors
and decrease inappropriate ones. This can involve discussing with learners about the rewards and
consequences of various behaviors.
3. Modeling provides an alternative to shaping for teaching new behaviors. Instead of using
shaping, which is operant conditioning modeling can provide a faster, more efficient means for
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teaching new behavior. To promote effective modeling, a teacher must make sure that the four
essential conditions exist; attention, retention, motor reproduction, and motivation.
4. Teachers and parents must' model appropriate behaviors and take care that they do not model
inappropriate behaviors.
5. Teachers should expose students to a variety of other models. This technique is especially
important to break down traditional stereotypes.
ACTIVITY # 5
Discussion Points and Exercise Questions
Direction: Read and understand this module. Provide what is being asked. Write your answer in a long
bond paper (Hand written) and attached to the last page of this module.
TASKS:
1. Written Exercises (60 points)
A. Instruction: Choose a topic you want to teach. Think of ways you can apply the three primary laws
while you teach the topic. Use the table provided below:
Law of Exercise
B. Instruction: State a personal message derived from the key concepts of Tolman’s purposive
behaviorism. Use the table provided below:
2.
3.
4.
5.
C. Instruction: Choose 3 key concepts of Bandura’s social learning theory then state how you apply
the concept as you teach. Use the table provided for this purpose.
2.
3.
End of Week 5
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