What is Scaffolding? Scaffolding in instruction is when a teacher supports students throughout the learning process. The instructor gradually introduces new ideas, building on each prior step and knowledge. As students learn new skills, they are able to master the task by tackling each section at a time. This allows them to acquire new skills […]
Situated Learning Theory
Situated learning, also known as situated cognition, first emerged as an instructional model through the research of Paul Duguid, John Seely Brown, and Allan Collins. Their paper, titled “Situated Cognition and the Culture of Learning” criticized the division of knowledge and practice. Situated learning is based on ideas from many fields, such as psychology, sociology, […]
Anchored Instruction Model
While there have been many contributors to the paradigm of anchored instruction, John Bransford is considered the leader of this framework. Through the Cognition & Technology Group at Vanderbilt University, he facilitated the idea of combining rich, meaningful contexts with technology-based learning. Anchored instruction is often considered to be a form of situated learning, which […]
Cognitive Apprenticeship
Apprenticeship is an ancient idea; skills have been taught by others for centuries. In the past, elders worked alongside their children to teach them how to grow food, wash their clothes, build homes and speak the language. Today, the term apprenticeship is more closely associated with learning a skilled trade; the journeyman works with the […]
WebQuest: An Inquiry-oriented Approach in Learning
The rise in online learning brings renewed interest in WebQuests. As an authentic, scaffolded, and inquiry-based activity, a WebQuest is an educational superstar. It utilizes essential resources and captures the attention of the students. Not only are students able to reflect on their own learning, but they also develop a richer understanding between topics. The […]
Erikson’s Stages of Psychosocial Development
In 1950, Erik Erikson released his book, Childhood and Society, which outlined his now prominent Theory of Psychosocial Development. His theory comprises of 8 stages that a healthy individual passes through in his lifetime, each detailing a specific challenge or task. Erikson did not focus so much on ages but on the progression of the […]
Gagne’s Nine Events of Instruction
Heralded as a pioneer in educational instruction, Robert M. Gagné revolutionized instructional design principles with his WW II-era systematic approach, often referred to as the Gagné Assumption. The general idea, which seems familiar today, is that different things are best learned using different methods. Gagne’s Nine Events of Instruction are a perfect example of how […]
Kolb’s Experiential Learning Theory & Learning Styles
The humanistic and constructivist approaches to education, which emphasize that learning occurs naturally, include David Kolb’s Theory of Experiential Learning. Kolb proposed that experience was critical in the development of knowledge construction, as learning occurs through discovery and active participation. Kolb defined leaning as: the process whereby knowledge is created through the transformation of experience” […]
Robert Gagné’s Taxonomy of Learning
Gagne classified learning outcomes into five major categories: verbal information, intellectual skills, cognitive strategies, motor skills and attitudes. What is learning to Gagné? As outlined in his 9-events of instruction, Gagne believed that learning was ongoing and built continuously on prior knowledge. Humans developed intellectually based on their physical capacity to do so. It is through ongoing […]
Bloom’s Taxonomy
Together with Edward Gurst, David Krathwohl, Max Englehart and Walter Hill, psychologist Benjamin Bloom released Taxonomy of Educational Objectives in 1956. This framework would prove to be valuable to teachers and instructors everywhere as it allowed educators to categorize learning goals. It would later become popularly known as Bloom’s Taxonomy. See also: Using Bloom’s Taxonomy […]
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