Jerome Bruner Learning as Discovery

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Jerome Bruner Learning as Discovery

• Nikki and Amanda

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Constructivism-

• Teaching/learning model based on cognitive
  learning theory holds that learners should
  generate their own knowledge through
  experience-based activities rather than being
  taught it by teachers
• Integrating Educational Technology (pg 356)

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A little about Jerome Bruner

• Bruner was born in NY, and later educated at Duke
  and Harvard University
• His books- The process of education and Towards a
  Theory of instruction are Bruners classics
• In his text, The process of education,Bruner came
  up with his four key themes structure of
  learning, readiness for learning, intuitive and
  analytical thinking,and motives for learning
• During the 1960s Bruner looked at
• cognitive growth through environmental
• and experimental factors.

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Bruners Stages of cognitive development in
children
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Stage 1

• Enactive Stage (birth-3) Children view their
  environment in terms of what they can do with it.
  At this stage demonstrating to a child is most
  affective. A child will better show than tell
• Ex A child could better show you how to play a
  game than explain how to play
• Ex An adult would show a child how to tie shoes
  rather than explain it

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Stage 2

• Iconic Stage (3yrs-8yrs) A child can visualize
  how to do something without actually having to do
  it. They still view things in terms of how they
  perceive their environment, not how it is
  explained to them. Visual memory increases
• Ex A child can visualize how their bedroom is
  set up without having to walk in it

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Stage 3

• Symbolic Stage (8yrs and up) Children can use
  symbols to represent things in their world, and
  they can understand abstract symbolism. They can
  place objects within specific categories.
• Ex A child can differentiate between the symbols
  on public bathroom doors, in order to use the
  right one

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Six Benchmarks of Cognitive development

• Can respond to situations appropriately, rather
  than the same way every time
• Can store events in the mind based on the
  environment it fits into
• Greater language capacity
• Can interact with appropriately with adult
  figures i.e.- teachers, parents, tutors, etc
• Utilize language to make sense of their
  environment
• Have the ability to accomplish several demands
  givens at once

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Which Benchmark can be applied

• Instead of pointing to her empty cup and saying
  please, Mary now hands her cup to her mother
  and says, May I please have more juice?
• Bobbys mother tells him to wash his hands, brush
  his teeth, comb his hair, and go to the bathroom,
  before getting into bed. Bobby does exactly as he
  is told, and in that order.

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Which Benchmark can be applied Cont.

• When in class Sarah knows to raise her hand to
  answer a question, and to stay in line while
  traveling down the hallway. At home she know to
  asks before going to play outside, and to help
  her mother set the table when she begins to cook
  dinner.

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Which Benchmark can be applied Cont.

• Whenever they go to the house in St. Michaels
  Kelly knows that the following weekend will be
  New Years. First they will exchange late
  Christmas presents with relatives, then they will
  play card games, and next comes the big family
  feast.

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Applying Bruners theories

• Discovery learning is the key approach
• Exploring and manipulating objects
• Controversial discussions and experiments
• Make material relevant at each stage of
  development
• Active participation is required

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What teachers think

• In order for Bruners methods (Constructivism
  learning) to be successful students must have
  prior knowledge of subject and some experience
  with the subject

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Applying Technology

• Computer Based Visual Activity
• for children it could be as simple as matching
  colors and shapes as a simple exercise
• Virtual Exploration
• this would be a great way of having hands on
  experience and individual exploration with things
  that might not be practical in real life
• EX -taking a virtual tour through the human body
  -disecting an animal through a computer program
  to learn the different parts

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References

• Roblyer, M.D. Integrating Educational Technology
  into Teaching. 3rd ed. New Jersy Pearson
  Education, Inc., 2003.
• Smith, M.K Jerome S. Bruner and the Process of
  Education, The Encyclopedia of Informal
  Education. lthttp//www.infed.org/thinkers/bruner.h
  tm.gt