Learning and development

Laura Gimnez

Appropiation, by Barbara Rogoff

First of all, I must say that in the beginning Ive had trouble to understand what
appropiation was. It is a dense reading and the font makes it even more difficult to
read, so Ive had to be very focused and try not to be decentralized while reading.

Unlike Barbara, there are other authors that relate the term of appropiation with a
process of internalization. In fact, as Barbara mentions, there are some ambiguities in
the use of this concept. This has made me think that sometimes people can have
different perceptions, thoughts and views about the meaning of a term.
Nevertheless, Barbara defends what she calls participative appropiation. When she
says that through participation people change and in the process become prepared to
engage in the subsequent similar activities it makes me think about how our university
teachers always insist on us being participative in class and on making our future
students participate.

Whereas the concept of internalization leads to static learning based on storing static
knowledge in our brains, the term of participative appropiation is more based on
previous experiences; previous participation of the individuals that contribute to their
development and learning.

From my viewpoint, Barbara wants to criticize the fact that there are authors that think
it is all about an internalization process. I believe that, as she says, appropiation is about
a continuous development and participation with the social context. Social interaction
and participation is what makes us grow as humans.
I totally agree with all Barbaras statements. The model of participative appropiation
makes us, students, more active and makes us develop personally, socially and
culturally. It is obvious that we learn from others and from our social and cultural
environment. Thus, this made me think that if we, as teachers, want our students to
participate and be active, we should also consider to participate more in class and stop
being ashamed of talking in front of the classmates.