Constructivism, Educational Research, and John Dewey :: Learning Education Essays

Constructivism, Educational Research, and John Dewey ABSTRACT: Schools are expected to transmit knowledge to younger generations. They are, however, also increasingly criticized for distributing so-called inert knowledge, i.e., knowledge that is accessed only in a restricted set of contexts even though it is applicable to a wide variety of domains. The causes of limited knowledge transfer are mostly attributed to the dis-embeddedness of learning situations in schools. Instructional procedures that result in learning in the sense of being able to recall relevant information provide no guarantee that people will spontaneously use it later. "Authentic learning," acquiring knowledge in the contexts that (will) give this knowledge its meaning, is now being presented as an alternative. Underpinning these reform proposals is not only a (growing) concern with efficiency, but is also a new epistemological theory, labelled as constructivism. This paper will, first, focus on the layout of and diverging perspectives within recent constructivist re search in education. Next, the epistemological approach of John Dewey will be discussed, which takes as its starting point the relation of knowledge to action. Finally, we will indicate what a Deweyan approach might add to the constructivist research in education. 1. One indication of the rate of growth of constructivist research in education is the proliferation of its perspectives and positions. Apparently, it is already found wanting to distinguish between different themes, accents, evaluations. Instead, one speaks of contrasting ‘paradigms’. Thus, Steffe & Gale distinguish in a reader entitled Constructivism in education six different "core paradigms", viz "social constructivism, radical constructivism, social constructionism, information-processing constructivism, cybernetic systems, and sociocultural approaches to mediated action" (1995, p.xiii). All of these so-called paradigms reject traditional epistemological claims about knowledge as an objective representation of ‘reality’. Their arguments are, however, only rarely directed against inherited traditional conceptions. Rather, it are the newly formulated alternatives which serve as points of reference. Constructivist ‘paradigms’ are most of all elab orated in debate with fellow-alternatives. The most outspoken pioneer of a constructivist approach to teaching has been Ernst von Glasersfeld, whose ‘radical constructivism’ still is at the center of the debate. Elaborating on the works of Jean Piaget, von Glasersfeld has particularly focussed on individual self-regulation and the building of conceptual structures through reflection and abstraction. According to von Glasersfeld, ‘authentic’ learning depends on seeing a problem as ‘one’s own problem’, as an obstacle that obstructs one’s progress toward a goal. The farthest removed from this individualistic focus seems to be the sociocultural approach that originated with Ljev Vygotskij in Russia.

Hollywood and Nathaniel Wests The Day of the Locust Essay -- Nathanie

Hollywood and Nathaniel West's The Day of the Locust Works Cited Missing Although set in the 1930s, Nathanael West’s The Day of the Locust ironically resembles contemporary Hollywood. Within the glamorous setting of Hollywood, West’s characters take on multiple roles instead of assuming individual personalities. They put on and remove these imaginary personality masks, similar to those in the Commedia dell’Arte, to exhibit a range of emotions that only their character type would exhibit. Consequently, West’s characters are trapped in this restrictive atmosphere, especially at the end of the novel when they become part of a collective mob. In these manners, the characters in The Day of the Locust exhibit qualities akin to modern actors, proving that they are nothing more than a cast of personages rather than individuals. Hollywood is not simply a point on a map; it is a representation of the human experience. As with any other location, though, Hollywood’s history can be traced and analyzed up to present day. In 1887, Harvey Henderson Wilcox established a 120-acre ranch in an area northwest of Los Angeles, naming it â€Å"Hollywood† (Basinger 15). From then on, Hollywood grew from one man’s family to over 5,000 people in 1910. By then, residents around the ranch incorporated it as a municipality, using the name Hollywood for their village. While they voted to become part of the Los Angeles district, their village was also attracting motion-picture companies drawn in by the diverse geography of the mountains and oceanside (15). The Los Angeles area continues to flourish, now containing over nine million people, an overwhelming statistic compared to Wilcox’s original, family unit (U.S. Census Bureau 1). However, these facts only s... ...ic category. Instead, they have the freedom to shift between different roles and characters. In West’s The Day of the Locust, the characters exhibit traits most closely linked to these new types of Hollywood actors. Although he introduces them as types, he develops them throughout the novel with variable personalities. Todd’s emotions, for example, towards Faye range from sweetly romantic to vindictively dangerous. Yet, these variable personalities do not prove individuality, as the characters can all be labeled as characters, just like all actors are just actors at the end of every movie no matter what role they play. Unfortunately, West’s characters can never escape their fixed roles and established places in the narrative despite how often they attempt to change. They are forever stuck as modern actors in a 1930s Hollywood setting, and therein lies their tragedy. Hollywood and Nathaniel West's The Day of the Locust Essay -- Nathanie Hollywood and Nathaniel West's The Day of the Locust Works Cited Missing Although set in the 1930s, Nathanael West’s The Day of the Locust ironically resembles contemporary Hollywood. Within the glamorous setting of Hollywood, West’s characters take on multiple roles instead of assuming individual personalities. They put on and remove these imaginary personality masks, similar to those in the Commedia dell’Arte, to exhibit a range of emotions that only their character type would exhibit. Consequently, West’s characters are trapped in this restrictive atmosphere, especially at the end of the novel when they become part of a collective mob. In these manners, the characters in The Day of the Locust exhibit qualities akin to modern actors, proving that they are nothing more than a cast of personages rather than individuals. Hollywood is not simply a point on a map; it is a representation of the human experience. As with any other location, though, Hollywood’s history can be traced and analyzed up to present day. In 1887, Harvey Henderson Wilcox established a 120-acre ranch in an area northwest of Los Angeles, naming it â€Å"Hollywood† (Basinger 15). From then on, Hollywood grew from one man’s family to over 5,000 people in 1910. By then, residents around the ranch incorporated it as a municipality, using the name Hollywood for their village. While they voted to become part of the Los Angeles district, their village was also attracting motion-picture companies drawn in by the diverse geography of the mountains and oceanside (15). The Los Angeles area continues to flourish, now containing over nine million people, an overwhelming statistic compared to Wilcox’s original, family unit (U.S. Census Bureau 1). However, these facts only s... ...ic category. Instead, they have the freedom to shift between different roles and characters. In West’s The Day of the Locust, the characters exhibit traits most closely linked to these new types of Hollywood actors. Although he introduces them as types, he develops them throughout the novel with variable personalities. Todd’s emotions, for example, towards Faye range from sweetly romantic to vindictively dangerous. Yet, these variable personalities do not prove individuality, as the characters can all be labeled as characters, just like all actors are just actors at the end of every movie no matter what role they play. Unfortunately, West’s characters can never escape their fixed roles and established places in the narrative despite how often they attempt to change. They are forever stuck as modern actors in a 1930s Hollywood setting, and therein lies their tragedy.

Organizations and Behaviour Essay

Requirement 1: 1.1Compare and contrast different organisational structures and culture (P1.1) 1.2 Explain how the relationship between an organisation’s structure and culture can impact on the performance of the business (P1.2). 1.3 Discuss the factors which influence individual behaviour at work (P1.3) Requirement 2: 2.1Compare the effectiveness of different leadership styles in different organisations (P2.1). 2.2Explain how organisational theory underpins the practice of management (P2.2) 2.3Evaluate the different approaches to management used by different organisations (P2.3) Requirement 3: 3.1Discuss the impact that different leadership styles may have on motivation in organisations in periods of change (P3.1) 3.2Compare the application of different motivational theories within the workplace (P3.2)3.3Evaluate the usefulness of a motivation theory for managers (P3.3) Requirement 4: 4.1Explain the nature of groups and group behaviour within organisations (P4.1) 4.2Discuss factors that may promote or inhibit the development of effective teamwork in organisations (P4.2). 4.3Evaluate the impact of technology on team functioning within a given organisation (P4.3) Evaluate the factors that promote the development of effective teamwork of Zara and derive a valid and rational conclusion. (D1) Assume you are the Human Resource Manager of any business, how would you take the responsibility for managing and organising activities of your business in the context of the organisation behaviour? (D2) Points will be awarded to those who demonstrate convergent/lateral/creative thinking to give answer. (D3)

Philosophical Reflection Essay

In the words of Socrates, the Great Greek philosopher, â€Å"The unexamined life is not worth living†. One of the major things that distinguish man from other animals is his ability to ruminate. To be is to be conscious and to be conscious means to be fully aware and thoughtful. In a world where different belief systems are flying around, man needs to test all things and hold on to that which is certain. We should pattern our lives in such a way that we separate truth from illusion and make decisions after careful or critical consideration. Philosophical reflection is the careful examination of life situations. This involves the weighing of several alternatives and using specific standards to evaluate one’s actions. A man reflects philosophically when he is able to build on previous actions, events, or decisions. This essential attribute spells the difference between man and other lower animals whose basis of action is their feeling. Making an assessment of my life, i will say that philosophical reflection has been a part of my life. I learnt the importance of making the right choices early in life. My father used to tell me; â€Å"You are what you do†. I guess this made me develop a cautious attitude towards making decisions and evaluating issues before coming to a conclusion. I have grown up to see things from different points of view. I do not accept a view because of who said it, rather, i put all things into scrutiny in order to hold on to that which is true. Before making a decision, i draw up a probable conclusion on the eventualities and weigh up the effect of my actions. I believe the wisest of men can learn from a fool and in view of this, i do not write-off anybody. I carefully and critically examine a pre-existing belief before incorporating it as my belief system. As i have discovered, many of the things people believe are lies and illusions. I do not attach sentiments to whatever i do because this will lead my judgement astray. Reference:

W7 discusion Mareting Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

W7 discusion Mareting - Essay Example This point is highly justified in the sense that no shareholder wants to invest where there is no patronage to bring about profitability. Meanwhile, the current global market is so competitive that customers are highly selective of the organizations or companies they would do business with. Because of this, the need for creating competitive advantage that targets customer participation is very important. Meanwhile, Cooperrider, Whitney, Stravos and Fry (2008) in a recent study showed that because of the similarities that exists in classical modules of competitive advantage such as the emphasis on cost and quality, customers have started looking for something more than cost and quality, being assured that these two are likely to be found wherever they turn. In their new search, customers seem to have come to appreciate the place of customer satisfaction in selecting where to do business. Companies therefore have to have very high customer satisfaction scores in order to gain competitive advantage in the modern market. By gaining competitive advantage to, a company can be assured of highly profitability as it means cust omers will bring in more revenue through their patronage of services (Campbell, Whitehead and Finkelstein,

My reflection about the racing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

My reflection about the racing - Essay Example Unlike rallying where the drivers and their co-drivers are challenged to maintain a scheduled typical speed over a series of stages throughout a public road or forest, in a drag racing, one simply emerges the winner if they managed to cross the finishing line before the competitor. With a powerful V8 or a Dodge Viper, one can accelerate from a standing start to over 100MPH in merely a few seconds. Apparently, it is a sport for the strong hearted, and I sojourned on to participates in it during the Friday Fun Night organized by Crossroads Dragway. The Friday Fun Night, as well as the tour, were a memorable time. The instructors exemplified courteousness and professionalism, taking an inordinate amount of their time explaining to us what was required to make the occasion a success story. The guided tour was an eye-opener as we got the opportunity to learn and comprehend basic concepts in motorsports as well as the roles and importance of regulatory bodies such as NHRA (National Hot Rod Association). Participants hardly lost control and fatalities were circumvented, a fact that is ostensibly attributable to the standard training and guide we received from instructors prior to the event. Drag racing fans got the opportunity to enjoy a relaxed, serene environment full of fun. The Grassroots Motorsports staff was quite welcoming and handled guests with a lot of humility and hospitality. Basic facilities were easily accessible, and the joy of the fans was brilliantly perceptible on their faces. Before the race commenced, we were allowed to do a burnout which heated the driving tires and improved traction by laying down rubber where the track started. The races were automatically started using a system of Christmas tree which contains 6 lights for each lane; 1red, 1 blue, 1green, and 3 amber. They were all linked to light beams on the track. The lights allowed some competitors to proceed after pre-staging whereas those who were timed-out

Project management Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 2

Project management - Coursework Example The case: S M Construction has been awarded a contract to build a new manufacturing plant just outside Cardiff. The activity on arrow table below gives data on the activities involved in the plant’s construction. The excellent timeline view, provided by Ms project, is one of the features that contributed to the usefulness of this software (Muir, 2004, 59). The feature allowed for organizing each execution, listed in the case, regardless of whether they were complicated or long projects. This made the coordination between the projects, both long and short, much easier. Further, the compatibility of the project to other office apps also contributed to the successful execution of the task assigned by SM construction. The compatibility allowed for a presentation in Microsoft word, through copy pasting for better understanding. Further the software made it easy to derive relationship between the presented activities, thereby presenting an activity node diagram worth appraising (Taylor & Dow, 2013, 45). From the above case, the use of MS project proved that the SM construction project manager can minimize cost from  £26000 to  £19000. This was obtained by extracting a critical path from network diagram, which showed the shortest route possible. The network diagram showed that the lowest cost will be along 1-2, 1-3, 2-5, 5-6. Mind manager is another software, apart form Microsoft project, which can be use to perform the exercise presented by SM constructions (Lowery, 2001, 7). Managing such project, as presented, is made easier by mind manager through its outstanding feature of graphically compiling the data. The software allows users to add relationship between given activities and sub activities within a given project. Intuitively, the effectiveness of mind managers lies in how easy it allows users to organize information and