Wk4: Learning and Instructor Role

I'm not sure my view on learning has really changed that much. Meaningful learning seemed to me to be an extension of cognitive information processing (CIP). As CIP states, we learn by building on previous knowledge and constructing pychological "building blocks" of knowledge. However, some of our premises or previous knowledge can be flawed which leads to continued error. Some examples given in the Novak reading (Novak 2002) refer to studies done with MIT graduates in which very intelligent student expressed inaccurate views on subjects such as the origin of weather change, the explanation of the carbon in trees, and other concepts that should normally have been easy for them to understand.

The idea of concept mapping as a tool help student to actually understand their own memory and learning was ingenious to me. I had used mind-mapping software to brainstorm and take notes before, but describing it in light of correcting previous learning was really enlightening. I especially enjoying playing with the CmapperTool (http://cmap.ihmc.us/conceptmap.html).

The role of the instructor is, at least for me, one of a facilitator. The instructor should be helping student to understand not only the course concepts but how to learn as well. I see this concept mapping idea as a great way to do this.

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Note:  Meaningful learning might answer student's questions of "Why are we learning this?", or "What is this good for?".