Dr. Bruner and his theories

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Dr. Bruner and his theories

• Alex Mwangi
• Anita Cline
• Chinara DeGross
• Tim Jones

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Dr. Jerome Bruner

• Born in New York City on October 1, 1915
• Attended Duke University and graduated with a BA
  in 1937
• Earned Ph.D. in 1941 from Harvard University
• Developed interest in cognitive studies
• Wanted to explore ways in which needs,
  motivations and expectations affect perception
  (New Look research).

http//www.newfoundations.com/GALLERY/Bruner.html
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Dr. Jerome Bruner

• Became professor of psychology at Harvard
  University.
• Introduced cognitive psychology as an alternative
  to behavior theorists.
• Co-founded and directed Center for Cognitive
  Studies.

http//www.newfoundations.com/GALLERY/Bruner.html
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Selected Publications

• A Study of Thinking Bruners account of how
  human beings achieve rationality despite various
  constraints.
• Acts of Meaning Bruners argument for the
  importance of the cognitive revolution

Books.google.com/Jerome Bruner
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Fellowships Honors

• Balzan Prize 1987 for contributions to the
  understanding of the human mind
• CIBA Gold Medal 1974 for outstanding and
  original research
• American Academy of Arts and Sciences

http//www.internationalbalzanprizefoundation.html
www.amacad.org/
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• DISCOVERY LEARNING
• Dr. Bruner encouraged a theory called Discovery
  Learning. In a discovery learning environment,
  students would explore alternatives and recognize
  relationships between ideas (Bruner, 1973).

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Dr. Bruners Sub Questions inside his theory of
discovery learning

• -What knowledge and skills are worthwhile
  learning?
• - What are the goals of education?

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• Bruner (1983) stated, In order to keep pace with
  the ever increasing changes of technology,
  education should focus on the basic skills that
  will be needed to manage this technology (p. 136)
  
• As technology increases, so do the skills needed
  to use technology have to increase.

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• As computers get more complex, students need to
  learn and know how to type, how to use
  PowerPoint, and how to use Excel.
• -Goals of Education
• The goals of education, according to Bruner
  (1983), are to free society and assist students
  in developing their full potential (p. 129)

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Cultural Influence

• Culture shapes the mind
• How a student conceives of education is directly
  related to how that student conceives of culture
• Bruner looked to environmental and experiential
  factors

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Readiness for learning

• Spiral curriculum
• Schools delay teaching difficult subject matter
• Any subject can be taught effectively at any
  stage
• Children are active problem solvers

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Motives for Learning

• Interest in the material
• Not external goals-grades
• We teach a subject to make students think-not to
  make them memorize facts
• Schooling goes beyond school

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According to Brunner learners

• Are considered creators and thinkers through the
  use of inquiry.
• Gain new knowledge and new meaning from authentic
  experiences.
• Gain information through discovery learning e.g.
  web quests, and Virtual simulation labs

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Question 1 What type of theorist was Brunner?

• -A. Social judgment Theorist.
• -B. Constructivist
• -C. Behaviorist
• -D. Situated learning theorist.

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Question 2 What is the theory that Dr. Bruner
came up with?

• -A. Active Learning
• -B. Passive Learning
• -C. Sensation Learning
• -D. Discovery Learning

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Question 3 According to Dr. Bruner, what is one
goal of education?

• -A. To assist student in reaching their full
  potential
• -B. To give teachers a meaning full job
• -C. To give parents a rest from their kids
• -D. To assist students in gaining prior knowledge

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Any Questions?

• Thank you.

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References

• Bruner, Jerome. (1983). Education as
• Social Invention. Journal of Social
• Issues, 39, 129-141.
• Cherry, G. An Overview of Jerome Brunner His
  Theory of Constructivism http//www.odu.edu/educ/r
  overbau/class_websites/761_spring_04/assets/course
  _docs/id_theory_reps_sp04/bruner-cherry.pdf
• Department of Psychology NYU. (2008, May21).
  Jerome Bruner. Retrieved June 3, 2008, from
  http//www.psych.nyu.edu/bruner
• Roblyer, M.D. (2006). Integrating
• Educational Technology into Teaching.
• New Jersey Pearson Merrill Prentice
• Hall
• http//www.infed.org/thinkers/bruner.htm.
  Retrieved June 3, 2008
• http//www.newfoundations.com/GALLERY/Bruner.html.
  Retrieved June 3, 2008

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References

• Constructivist Theory (J. Bruner). Retrieved
  June 3, 2008. http//tip.psychology.org/bruner.ht
  ml