Saturday, September 3, 2011

Moll: Foundations of Learning

Quote:
One advantage to studying "human beings dynamically, within their social
circumstances, in their full complexity," Moll remarks, is that one can
gain "a much more complete, and, we believe, a much more valid
understanding of them."

Response:
As soon as I read this, I became very excited to read this article. It talks about how to make school more productive and exciting for all our students. I have often tried to base my teaching ideas around the idea of involving community, social aspects, and relativity to life to the students. These ideas being mostly centered around the use of art and how it is an important social tool for all communities in some way, and just not something that can be found in a museum. I really feel that this article was pushing for the idea of the classic classroom to be put aside and reviewed. Today very few children get excited about going to school, or even being involved with their classmates. The term 'school' has evolved into such a negative word that learning seems almost impossible for students of any race or ethnicity. But if we take it and introduce students to a new meaning of what it really means to learn then I think that a spark of interest would return. Schools are suppose to teach students and give them a chance to become productive and proud citizens, that is something I am failing to see. We seem to be turning out students who only do just enough to get by and are failing to see the advantages of school and what it can really do for them if as teachers we can provide proper and relative classroom experiences. I loved the example of the teacher who took this idea seriously and really worked to make her classroom not stale place of regurgitation but a small community of learners who worked individually and collectively to solve a problem. I feel that it is so important to get students to become active learners for themselves, and to really take the journey and connect to themselves only then will they really learn and gain pride in who they are. Learning should a growing process, is should become a way to broaden one's horizons and become part of them. Just to see the small paper city they were able to create by working together would be amazing. Also from the perspective of the learning styles there seemed to be a bit of everything for all types; speakers, papers/writing, and hands on projects. Stories of successful teaching and classroom participation, it seems always stems from the collaboration of not only teacher interactions, but students and teacher working together and understanding one another.

Moll, Luis. Cultural Funds of Knowledge 1. Web. 3 Sep 2011.

I chose this video because I felt that it best showed how students can take a hold of their own surroundings and really feel like they are achieving and learning. These activities these students are interacting in are building basic skills of communication and team work,and can be applied in the classroom as well as real life situations.


"Change the World in 5 Minutes-Everyday at School." YouTube. Web. 3 Sep 2011. .


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