Constructie learning video post

The role of the teacher as a facilitator was very apparent in the videos. The teachers role in this type of teaching is not that of a traditional teacher but one that guides the students into finding their conclusions on their own. In the light bulb example, the students were told to find out why and how the light bulb stays lit without being given the answer out of a textbook, instead they were given the tools necessary to light a light bulb and to document their findings. The teacher was there as a guide and to keep them on task while answering any questions they might have. The nature of the learner was also quite obvious in the videos. It was the responsibility of the learner to become involved with the lesson and to arrive at his/her own conclusion. The background of the learner is a key in this type of learning as well. Students must apply their background knowledge and apply it to the lesson, some students are better at taking notes or reading the textbook and taking an exam but this method of learning requires the student to physically work out the answer through a hands-on experiment. In the video there was a student that asked the teacher why can't the textbook be taught and just take a test on what was covered in a particular chapter, but for the most part the students were engaged and excited about finding the answer on their own. Social interaction was also seen in the videos. After the students submitted to the teacher their conclusions there was a class discussion of those conclusions. One student concluded the electricity stops once it reaches the light bulb while others said the electricity continues through the light bulb in a cycle and it allowed another student to give an example of 2 light bulbs connected together that he had seen before to reinforce his answer that the electricity traveled in a cycle through the light bulb. Students teaching students and peer interaction is a staple of constructive learning and it was evident in the videos.
This method is an effective way to get students engaged and actively involved in the lesson. However, it would seem to some, me included, that it can be quite time consuming when teaching a lesson much less a unit throughout a school year, even one teacher said as much in the video. I do understand this method teaches the students problem solving and critical thinking while using their prior knowledge or experience to do so and I would actually use this method in certain similar experiments in my classroom. However, when you are teaching in a school district or state that requires standardized tests in determining the students promotion/graduation as well as funding to your school then the curriculum for teaching becomes those very tests. Sad but true.