Reflection #1

(1) Describe the Experience:
This week, I have been conducting research for the WikiText chapter entitled "Today's Controversies in Constructivism". While conducting this research, I have been recording my learning / research notes in the chapter's corresponding Sandbox. This has been quite a difficult task for me for many reasons. First of all, the open format of the Sandbox document really freaked me out. I'm a very structured person for the most part and I like to see exactly how things are supposed to be done before I actually attempt to do them. I like seeing a "finished" product or an example before I start, so working with this blank canvas of a Sandbox completely frightened and intimidated me. Secondly, the idea of working in cooperative learning groups, through a distance course nonetheless, to research and share research notes was a bit overwhelming to me as well. I’ve never really liked “group work” because I’ve only had a very few successful “group work” experiences.
(2) Lessons Learned / Applications for the Classroom /Recommendations for Yourself or Others:
As for applications for the classroom, since constructivism focuses on allowing the learner to construct their own knowledge, I think that teachers should keep in mind that their students may be a little intimidated at first about working in a constructivist type environment or on constructivist-oriented assignments/projects. I think that this type of reaction is especially true of older students who have had the natural curiosity of their youth driven out of them by the need to do things “right” the first time as opposed to engaging in a “trial-and-error” thinking process. Therefore, in the classroom, I think teachers should be supportive of their apprehensive students and encourage them to be persistent and take learning “risks” to construct their own knowledge about concepts.
(3) Links to Readings, Resources, or Discussions:
These ideas directly link to the following resource from my Resource Log:

Seitzinger, J. (2006, July 10). Be constructive: Blogs, podcasts, and wikis as constructivist learning tools. Learning Solutions e-Magazine. Retrieved from http://www.careersmarts.com/21/blogs%20wikis%20podcasts%20learning%20tools.pdf

This Learning Solutions e-Magazine article, entitled “Be Constructive: Blogs, Podcasts, and Wikis as Constructivist Learning Tools”, supports my ideas and contends that constructivism can be an overwhelming medium.