Rogoff, B., Matsuov, E., & White, C. (1998) "Models of Teaching and Learning: Participation in a Community of Learners." In D. R. Olsen & N. Torrance (Eds.), The Handbook of Education and Human Development — New Models of Learning, Teaching and Schooling, Blackwell, Oxford, pp. 388-414 Briefly discuss the following issues: 1. what did you find 1.1. interesting about the article? What was interesting was the authors’ clear articulation of a need and value in moving beyond the lopsided adult-run (predominant) or child-run (reactionary) paradigms of teaching and learning because they merely reinforced the notions of transmission or acquisition, respectively. 1.2. not interesting about the article? The article was on the whole very nice and there was nothing uninteresting. 2. what do you consider the main message of the article? Although working with a community of learners paradigm might sometimes be frustrating when procedures and decisions are revisited, the benefits include: · active participation by all participants · meaningful contributions from all · shared responsibility for learning together through structured inquiry · reflective practice · respecting varied roles · building on one another’s ideas · increased commitment · numerous opportunities to observe, discuss, and participate · viewing learning as an ongoing process 3. analyze your own educational experience and 3.1. provide a rough estimate in percentage points for each category and Adult-run: 99% Child-run: 0% Community of learners: 1% 3.2. one example for each category (in case you have encountered all three approaches) Adult-run: Didactic lecture-based instruction Child-run: n/a Community of learners: DLC seminar this Spring 4. which technologies are used / can be used /should be used to support 4.1. adult-run education Move beyond “high-tech” PowerPoint presentations to engaging hands-on reflective practices supported by different everyday materials – post-it notes and paper clips included. 4.2. child-run education Same materials as above. 4.3. community of learners education Same materials as above 5. analyze our course from the three dimensions: 5.1. adult-run education We have had meaningful and inspiring instruction most of the time. Besides, the diligent feedback we regularly receive from our Instructor has been invaluable. 5.2. child-run education We’ve just started our Independent Research and Class Projects where we’re on our own. 5.3. community of learners education This is being constantly and deliberately fostered using the SWIKI’s. 6. which possibilities do you see to effectively integrate adult- and child-run education? Developing learners’ readiness in creative ways (like STRONG, may be?) before engaging learners with hands-on activities for purposeful learning and seeing the benefits outlined in 2.1 above in the community of learners paradigm offers immense possibilities. Nathan Balasubramanian
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