GRAY’S SPACE

I have just finished reading  Grabe, M. & Grabe, C. (2001) Conceptual models for school learning.

The chapter discusses authentic learning and ways of increasing and building authentic learning for students.

The chapter gives some interesting ideas for creating authentic learning opportunities for students. It becomes a matter of creating tasks that have real world value and meaning.There are a lot of good tips that we can use to incorporate into our lessons.However,I found the following quote very honest and a little suprising in a constructivist book.

While the basic ideas for constructivist activities have been studied for sometime in such fields as cognitive and developmental psychology, few actual classroom applications have been thoroughly evaluated using soIid research techniques (Panel on Educational Technology, 1997). There are some promising exceptions.(Cognition and Technology Group, 1992; Wenglinsky, 1998), but no body of research that would allow a valid conclusion.

Grabe, M. & Grabe, C. (2001). Conceptual models for school learning. In M. Grabe & C. Grabe (Eds). Integrating technology for meaningful learning 33rd Edtn. pp 56-76. Houghton MifflinPlace of Publication : Boston

I think we should start a new school of methodology called Instructive Constructivism/Constructionism