Here in the following link, you can see my presentation http://somup.com/cq632FfcEv, for better understanding my message first watch my presentation, its about 3 minutes and read the following text entitled “My reflection on ideal learning environment”
My reflection on ideal learning environment
Ideal learning environment may have different meaning for different people. This is because every peoples learning style is different, for example some prefers to listen to music while reading while others prefers completely silent environment, some prefers individual learning while some prefers group works, some prefers visual, some prefers audio, and so on. But as a teacher the expectation might be same what I mean to say here is “When we teach what we expect?” maybe each and every teacher will include following points in answering this questions:
- We want student to be active.
- We want student to be engaged.
- We want student to understand the message we want to deliver, and so on.
But here comes the big challenge, how can a teacher achieve these objectives while teaching? In my opinion if a teacher is able to achieve these objectives then I must say that he/she is teaching in an ideal learning environment.
Maybe these objectives can be achieved fully or at least in greater percentage if we understand the basics of learning theories: behaviorist theory, cognitive theory, constructive theory, and humanist (motivation) theory.
In my presentation (http://somup.com/cq632FfcEv), I tried to create an ideal learning environment based on cognitive theory, which I considered to be one of the best theory in teaching and learning. I believe that cognitive theory helps us to better understand and develop an ideal learning environment. According to cognitive theory, knowledge is mental construction that are developed during learning process. In other words, learning occurs if a learner is active participant. Therefore, learners always needs to explore, manipulate, experiment, and try to find answers in their own. This means the learning environment needs to be such that it stimulates curiosity. According to cognitive theory, our mind works exactly like a computer, collects the information …….> process the information…….> use that information to produce knowledge.
In explaining what is user innovation (http://somup.com/cq632FfcEv) I followed exactly the same pattern as how our mind works in search of new knowledge i.e. collects the information …….> process the information…….use that information to produce knowledge, as explained by cognitive theory. In other words, before explaining what user innovation is, I cited some pictures representing different user’s innovation but without mentioning what these pictures represents for, I did this is to develop a curiosity in listener’s mind, than I asked the listener to make a random guess about the topic for today’s discussion. After this I posed next question what might be common among these pictures? Through this question I tried to make this discussion to be a bit more interesting to listeners. Then I opened up the topic for today’s discussion i.e. what is user’s innovation? Then I defined user’s innovation and further explained about the examples to user’s innovation. Finally, I encouraged the listener to become a user innovator. During the whole process I tried to develop an interesting learning environment considering the listener to be the focus of presentation, which I considered to be an ideal learning environment.
In conclusion, I would say that if we are able to develop an environment that stimulates curiosity in our mind then we can achieve our teaching and learning goals. I do also believe that if we are able to develop some kind of hunger/curiosity/ keen interest then we can have experience of teaching and learning. This is the basic idea behind cognitive theory, which can be applied to effective and/or efficient teaching and learning.
List of references:
Leader in me, (2018). Learning theories: Understanding 4 major ones for the classroom. Available at: https://www.leaderinme.org/blog/learning-theories/
Guney, A., & Al, S. (2012). Effective learning environments in relation to different learning theories. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 46, 2334-2338.
MIT Bootcamp (2016). Examples of user’s innovation. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQykyC1zr8f8XUB1r7krMfqtPClx4i9Sg
My Journey to Vocational Teacher Education 2019-20 