Module 13 - Bruner’s Constructivist Theory 143
(MEE Bruner’s Constructivist Theory
In this Module, challenge yourself to attain the following
learning outcomes:
+ describe the development of the child’s ability to
represent knowledge.
+ explain how the spiral curriculum works.
Jerome Bruner was one of the first proponents of constructivism.
A major theme in the theory of Bruner is that learning is an active
process in.which learners construct new ideas or concepts based upon
their current/past knowledge.
za OEE elre iss
Bruner’s
ral Constructivist Theory
Gara (Main Concepts)
Theory
of Instruction
Representation of
Knowledge
Enactive
Predisposition
to Learn
Structure
of Knowledge
- Effective
Sequencing
Symbolic
‘{ Reinforcement
Lee
“Leamers
are
encouraged
to discover
facts and
relationships
for
themselves.”
“Jerome
Bruner144 FACILITATING LEARNER-CENTERED TEACHING
Think of a topic that you studied when you were in your preschool or
elementary years, and then you studied it again in high school, and probably
you had that same topic again in college.
What was the topic? s a
‘Try to recall how the topic was discussed/tackled in class (use of visual
aids by teacher, experiment, field trip, etc.).
Describe what and how you leamed about the topic during preschool/
elementary.
Describe what and how you learned about the topic during high
school.
<
Describe what and how you learned about the topic in college.
Jerome Bruner
Born New York City,
October 1, 1915.
He received his AB,
degree from Duke
Unies in 1987
fd he PRD in 1947 ‘Compare and contrast how the topic was taught to you in the
pap different levels (Try to recall the activities, materials, details
in the Department given, etc.)
of Psycology at
award Unversty : :
from 1952 = 1972 Why do you think the same topic was taught in the three
Seow tom 1972 different levels in school? Cite three or more reasons in bulleted
1980, Later he form.
Jone the New York
Unversity of La :
In 1960 Brner pb-
ished The Process
of Ecucaton. Ths
vas andar book
wih ed to much
‘experimentation and
el In the activity you just had, you would have surely seen that a
ine 18608 Hover} single topic can be taught in preschool/elementary, then again in high
Samreccegee | school, and still again in college! Take for instance, in learning about
woke ude Barer] Jose Rizal, in elementary we may have his picture in a postcard,
enced by Ns work, | Know that he is our national hero, born on June 19, 1861 in Calamba
leteeaty 70s | Laguna, and maybe even have a field trip there. In high school, we
toteachat Umersty| May study his two novels in more detail. In college, we would go
of Ones fr several) deeper into analyzing Rizal’s works and may look into the personal
Henard in 1s78. | and social factors that influenced him in his life and work and write a
term paper on it. This repeated topic on Rizal is_a way of applying
the principles in Bruner’s Theory. He gave us important concepts in
development of representations, the spiral curriculum and discovery
learning. These concepts are all in line with the constructivist
approach. (Constructivism will be discussed in Module 14).Bas 3 9s, eT a
Module 13 - Bruner’s Constructivist Theory 145
Bruner’s Main Concepts
Representation
Bruner suggested the ability to represent knowledge in three stages.
These three stages also become the three ways to represent knowledge.
1. Enactive representation — At the earliest ages, children learn about
the world through actions on physical objects and the outcomes of
these actions. Children represent objects in terms of their immediate
Sensation of them. They are represented in the muscles and involve
motor responses, or ways to manipulate the environment (i.e. riding
a bicycle and tying a knot, tasting the apple).
2. Teonie representation — This second stage is when learning can be
obtained through using models and pictures. The learner can [Warch these
Bow use mental images to stand for certain objects or events. | videos at you:
Iconic representation allows one to recognize objects when they |.
are changed in minor ways (e.g. mountains with and without
3, Sah Jerome Bruner
representation — In this third stage, the learner has
developed the ability to think in abstract terms. This uses
symbol system to encode knowledge. The’ most common
symbol systems are language and mathematical notation.
spoke at the
Universidad
Autonoma de
Madrid May 27,
Bruner advised that teachers utilize and bring together concrete, |2006.
Pictorial then symbolic activities to facilitate leaming. Before children | pan
can comprehend abstract mathematical operations, teachers can first have | ntpimewyou
the numbers represented enactively (with blocks) and then, iconically | tube.com watch?
(in pictures). Children can later on handle number concepts without | Y=K3qDIpHcfUA
conerete objects and only with numbers and number signs (symbolic). |,
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. youtube.com/
Spiral curriculum walch?v= ZKIF
Bruner stressed that teaching should always lead to boosting | ybO7NHQ
cognitive development. Students will not understand the concept if
teachers plan to teach it using only the teacher’s level of understanding.
Instruction needs to be anchored on the learners’ cognitive capabilities.
The task of the instructor is to translate information to be learned into a
format appropriate to the leamer’s current state of understanding. Curriculum
should be organized in a spiral manner so that the student continually builds
upon what they have already learned.
In a spiral curriculum, teachers must revisit the curriculum by
teaching the same content in different ways depending on students?
developmental levels. This is why certain topics are initially presented in
grade school in a manner appropriate for grade schoolers, and then the same
topic is tackled in high school, but on a much deeper level. Sometimes a
topic can be revisited within the same semester or school year. For instance,
the 14 learner-centered principles were introduced to you in Module 2, and
will again be tackled in Module 26. This time the 14 principles will be taken
up as 2 means to integrate and summarize all your learning in this course/
subject. Many other concepts and principles discussed in this book are also
taken up in your other, subjects like Child and Adolescent Development and
Principles of Teaching to name a few. This is part of spiral leaming. It helps
you get a clearer understanding, thus more effective learning.46
FACILITATING LEARNER-CENTERED TEACHING
In the K to 12 curriculum, the spiral progression is a mandate. Section
5 (g), Curriculum Development of RA. 10533, states “The curriculum shall
use the spiral progression approach to ensure mastery of knowledge and skills
after each level.” As applied in Math, this would mean that the teachers
teach Algebra, Geometry, Statistics and Trigonometry concepts from Kinder
to Grade 10. In the science class, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics concepts
are taught from Grade 3 (where Science as a subject starts) to Grade 10
considering the developmental stages of students. In the spiral’ progression
approach, the teaching of concepts increases in depth and breadth across the
Grade levels. Statistics concepts in Kindergarten are much simpler compared
to the Statistics concepts in Grade 10. Geometry concepts in Kindergarten
are much simpler than those taught in Grade 10. This is in contrast to
the “disciplinal approach of Math and Science teaching in the 2002 Basic
Education Curriculum (BEC). This means that in the 2002 BEC, Algebra is
taught in the First and Second Year; Geometry in the Third Year; Statistics and
Probability, and Trigonometry in the Fourth Year. In the sciences, Integrated
Science is taught in the First Year; Biology in the Second Year; Chemistry in
the Third Year and Physics in the Fourth Year.
In the spiral progression approach, concepts’are revisited again and again
as you go up the Grades. This supports mastery of concepts.
Figure 2.
Below are the principles of instruction stated by Bruner:
1. Instruction must be concerned with the experiences-and contexts
that make the student willing and able to learn (readiness).
2. Instruction must be structured so that it can be easily grasped by.
the student (spiral organization).
3. Instruction should be designed to facilitate extrapolation and or fill
in the gaps (going beyond the information given).
Discovery learning
Discovery learning refers to obtaining knowledge for oneself. The teacher
plans and arranges activities in-such a way that students search, manipulate,
explore and investigate. Students learn new knowledge relevant to the domain
and such general problem-solving skills as formulating rules, testing and
gathering information. Most discovery does not happen by chance. Students
require background preparation. Once students possess prerequisite knowledge,
careful structuring of material allows them to discover important principles.Module 13 ~ Bruner’s Constructivist Theory
Classroom Example:
Learning becomes more meaningful when students explore their
ming environment rather than listen passively to teachers.
In elementary school — Teachers might use guided discovery to
help children lear animal groups (e.g. mammals, birds, reptiles).
Rather than provide students with the basic animals groups and
examples for each, the teacher could ask students to provide the
names of types of animals. Then the students and teacher could
classify the animals by examining their similarities and differences.
Category labels.can be assigned once classifications are made. This
approach is guided by the teacher to ensure that classifications are
Proper, but students are active contributors as they discover the
Similarities and differences among animals.
lear
In high school - A chemistry teacher might use “mystery”
liquids and have students discover the elements in each. The
students could proceed through a series of experiments designed to
determine if certain substances are present in a sample. By using
the experimental process, students learn about the reactions of
various substances to certain chemicals and also how to determine
the contents of their mystery substance.
(Retrieved from http://www.lifecircles-ine. com/Bruner.htm)
major aspect:
1.
Bruner (1966) states that a theory of instruction should address four
Predisposition to learn. He introduced the ideas of “readiness for
learning”. Bruner believed that any subject could be taught at any stage
of development in a way that fits the child’s cognitive abilities. This
feature specifically states the experiences which move the learner toward
a love of learning in general, or of learning something in particular.
Motivational, cultural and personal factors contribute to this. Bruner
emphasized social factors and early teacher’s and parents’ influence on
this. He believed that learning and problem solving emerged out of
exploration. Part of the task of a teacher is to maintain and direct a
child’s spontaneous explorations.
Structure of Knowledge. This refers to the ways in which a body of
knowledge can be structured so that it can be most readily grasped by the
learner. Bruner emphasized’ the role of structure in learning and how it
may be made central in teaching. Structure refers to relationships among
factual elements and techniques. This will depend on different factors,
and there will be many ways to structure a body of knowledge and many
preferences among learners. Bruner offered considerable detail about
structuring knowledge.
1, Understanding the fundamental structure of a subject makes
it more comprehensible. Bruner viewed categorization as a
fundamental process in the structuring of knowledge. Details are
better retained when placed within the context of an ordered and
structured pattern.
2. To generate knowledge which is transferable to other contexts,
fundamental principles or patterns are best suited.48
FACILITATING LEARNER-CENTERED TEACHING
3. The discrepancy between beginning and advanced knowledge
in a subject area is diminished when instruction centers on a
structure and principles of orientation. This means that a body of
knowledge must be in a form simple enough for the learner to
understand and it must be in a form recognizable to the student's
experience.
3. Effective sequencing. No one sequencing will fit every learner, but in
general, the lesson can be presented in increasing difficulty. Sequencing,
or lack of it, can make learning easier or more difficult. Spiral curriculum
refers to the idea of revisiting basic ideas over and over, building upon
them and elaborating to the level of full understanding and mastery.
4. Reinforcement. Rewards and punishments should be selected and paced
appropriately. He investigated motivation for leaning. He felt that ideally,
interest in the subject matter-is the best stimulus for learning. Bruner did
not like external competitive goals such as grades or class ranking.
Categorization
Bruner gave much attention to categorization of information in the
construction of internal cognitive maps. He believed that perception,
conceptualization, learning, decision making and making inferences all involved
categorization. Categories are “rules” that specify four thing about objects. The
four things are given below:
1. Criterial attributes — required characteristics for inclusion of an object
in a category. (Example, for an object to be included in the category
“car” it must have an engine, 4 wheels, and be a possible means of
transportation,
The second rule prescribes how the criteral attributes are combined.
3. The third rule assigns weight to various properties. (Example, it could
be a car even if a tire was missing, and if it was used for hauling cargo
it would be shifted to a different category of “truck” or perhaps “van”.)
The fourth rule sets acceptance limits on attributes. Some attributes
can vary widely, such as color. Others are fixed. For example a vehicle
without an engine is not a car. Likewise, a vehicle with only two
wheels would not be included in “car”.
There are several kinds of categories:
1. Identity categories ~ categories include objects based on their
attributes or features.
2. Equivalent categories (provide rules for combining categories).
Equivalence can be determined by affective criteria, which render
objects equivalent by emotional reactions, functional criteria, based
on related functions (for example, “car”, “truck”, “van” could all
be combined in an inclusive category called “motor vehicle”), or by
formal criteria, for example by science, law or cultural agreement. For
example, an apple is still an apple whether it is green, ripe, dried, etc
(identity). It is food (functional), and it is a member of a botanical
classification group (formal).Module 13 — Bruner's Constructivist Theorys 149
Coding systems are categories that serve to recognize sensory input.
They are major organizational variables in higher cognitive functioning.
Going beyond immediate sensory data involves making inferences
on the basis of related categories, Related categories form a “coding:
system.” These are hierarchical arrangements of related categories.
The principles of Bruner launched ‘the notion that people interpret the
world mostly in terms of similarities and differences. This is a valuable
contribution to how individuals construct their own models or view of the
world.
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