Thava's Reading Notes #4

Lang’s descriptions of two theories are a great way to explain how one learns as beginning from childhood and as a college student. These theories gives very good explanations, more specifically I was reflecting with my learning and life experiences. Because one learning method worked for me doesnot mean it will be the best method for all students. Lang’s advice on p.163 is very good one to watch out the ones who may be resistant or donot get it. I have to change of teaching philosophy because I believed, or at least scientific principles dictated that science education should be in a certain way; I have readjust my thinking to make it more suited for diverse science student learning.

William Parry’s classification is an interesting one to explain different groups of student learning. Stage one of dualism, through relativism to stage three of commitment. Again Lang’s advise p. 171 is a valuable one as teachers, we may be able to better serve student’s learning at classroom, office hours and other meetings to better facilitate their learning.

In science, I see how commitment is a good and also a bad one. Lang’s has given enough explanation why we want to have students develop commitment is what is aimed from education. However, deeper commitment is a bigger problem in different disciplines in science as it might not enable to see some other disciplines. For example, a chemist, agriculturist and nutritionist may not see things uniformly to see certain critical things that we need to pay attention to solve some problems. I have committed to science and the management of science. However, I revolve around chemistry, agriculture and nutrition science areas time to time develop a deeper understanding on some societal issues that we could easily solve with good science experiments and results. Here I go from dualism through relativism to commitment until I am sure of what I want to focus on a monthly and annual basis.

I see scientists’ bigger resistance, inability revolve around looking at each other’s points of view. This problem could be much more bigger and bigger when it comes to student’s learning’s as they are a bigger group than group of professors or scientists. I wish I had known these theories 10 years ago! I could have managed my student and wok groups more effectively.