Tony Fadale (tfadale@pepperdine.edu)
Tue, 13 Apr 1999 00:07:53 -0700
Date: Tue, 13 Apr 1999 00:07:53 -0700 From: Tony Fadale <tfadale@pepperdine.edu> Subject: Re: Constructivist II/Reply
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John and Tracy, thanks for the insight into your thinking. As I said in
an earlier e-mail, I disagree but I do appreciate the effort you take to
explain your position.
I guess the next most reasonable question to ask you is how do you
assess your students and what is the rationale behind whatever it is you
do? Please, if I am being a bother, just pass this question over but I
am truly interested in your thinking behind the complete package you
deliver in the classroom.
Thanks,
Tony Fadale
John & Tracy Knox wrote:
>
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>
> Tony,
>
> Thanks for the questions and the chance for me to reply. First let me say
> that a teacher centered classroom does not have to be a teacher as dictator
> classroom. I make a point to show how the text that we use is wrong in
> places, that there are other points of view on issues, and that Newton HAD
> to think outside of the accepted norms. What I don't agree with is the type
> of constructivism where students will magically feel motivated enough to
> find out things on their own, or discover concepts through experimentation.
> What I have found through looking at writing samples is that students very
> rarely acquire knowledge from collected data without some help interpreting
> data. Some of that information has to go at the front end, and a text is a
> great place to start.
>
> Second, how much of what we know is second hand data? We live in a world
> where we have to be critical, but we still have to rely on the information
> that we gather. You have to start somewhere and one well written source is
> a good jumping off point. Any text will have shortcomings, none are to be
> taken as gospel, and good research skills will help you dig further. I do
> agree that the text as the only tool is not a great idea, but I have found
> that no text is as bad of an idea. A good text provides a backbone for
> students to build from.
>
> Third I would like to say that I look at education as how are you going to
> best teach 25-30 students at a time for a period of 45-50 minutes. I know
> that it isn't ideal but it is the best that society seems to be willing to
> spend on education. In the current system there is no time for
> individualization of instruction. No time for one on one interaction. The
> question that has to be answered is how do we reach the most kids for the
> time spent.
>
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