Bright-eyed and bushy-tailed


At first I wanted to say, it's the end of the road! However, I realize it's not over, we've only just begun. So this idiom I recently learned about is more apt in this last post, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, which means alert and ready to go. This informative class is about to end and yet we're at the beginning of our journey, to make use of all the knowledge we absorbed and are just about to apply in the real world. We have to be alert and hold on to these theories. Looks like it will take more than a bushy tail to get our students to focus their attention in class. Nevertheless, we're eager, excited and ready to go!

We started off defining learning. We saw how natural it is, an ongoing part of life. It takes place continually, for better or for worse. It is not a one-dimensional process, but takes place in many different ways where a variety of factors influence how and what people learn. These various learning styles can be treated as a challenge for educators to employ. It is up to the teachers to choose which strategy is the best to make use of in a specific situation. My previously narrow-minded views on teaching, learning and intelligence together with how it influences the knowledge, skills, and attitudes of students have definitely shifted to a more open-minded view through the different facets these involve. The diverse theories each have their own value, that we have to prune off what is not useful and find what clicks with the class. Though Behaviorism is an age-old approach that relies on rewards and punishments to reinforce or weaken a behavior, it is still effective until today, particularly with young students. Social Learning Theory shows us the powerful role of observation in shaping an individual's influences. Modeling therefore is crucial in this area for it is an effective instructional strategy that allows the student to observe an educator's thought processes. Cognitive Learning theory maybe more on the technical side and how the brain processes explicit-implicit memories, analogue-symbolic images, and phonological-semantic processing. Through elaboration rehearsal, meaningful analysis and concepts lead to better recall. Constructivist theories have taught us that learning is a gradual process developed mentally by a person's own volition. All these theories contribute to our teaching goal of equipping our students to be able to transfer their learning and relate them to other elements beyond those that we presented. Our students should be able to identify and solve problems in their academic work and life. 

Intelligence, on the other hand, is our ability to learn. It encompasses a range of aptitudes, skills, and talents. We can not box our students and continue to label them in a range of low to high IQ due to test result scores. I find this approach rigid and veering on the traditional side. I personally am drawn to Howard Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences. Schools stress too much importance on standardized aptitude and achievement tests that, in my opinion, are a narrow view of each student's capabilities. It does not fully reflect an individual's innate intelligence and abilities. We all have different strengths that can be illuminated given the chance. MI gives importance to the fact that people exist in numerous contexts, starting from the level of the family, community, culture and country. I pray that further studies and serious steps can be taken to adapt these concepts in schools today. It can be part of teacher training which aims to help students who are having difficulty in different subjects. First off, we need to determine which kind of intelligence or learning style best fits the student. This will hopefully engage and open their minds and "reach" their wavelength of thinking. In effect, learning will thus be more effective.

Though I am currently a teacher, this dual-role of being a student now helped me understand those under my care. Seeing them through the lens of the different learning and intelligence theories challenges me to create modules that can cater to their needs. It dares me to reflect how to initiate higher order thinking skills even at their young age. Hopefully, engaging them fully will eventually aid them in bringing about critical problem solving abilities.


School photo created by Freepik - 

https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/light-bulb-with-graduation-cap-copy-space_10752871.htm#page=1&query=light%20bulb%20and%20shcool&position=4


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