At the end of The Man Who Mistook his Wife for a Hat, Oliver Sacks cites a number of influential writers who have shaped the direction of his own thinking about neurology; what he refers to as his ‘essential axis of neurology’. As participants within domains of our chosen interest, we are all influenced by the work of previous and/or prominent proponents of the field.
Within education I have been influenced by a number of fields of interest i.e., gifted and talented (Renzulli, Gagne), cognitive psychology (Piaget, Bruner, Paivio), experiential learning (Kolb), disposition and the affective domain (Krathwohl), active agency and learner participation (Dewey), to name a few. Probably the most influential have been those writers who have spelt out the developmental mechanism of learning referred to as construction or constructivism, and the role of action and participatory agency in learning (of course not to reduce learning only to action and agency on the part of the learner!). This influence has been of great use in engaging learners in the classroom.
What would your essential axis of learning be, relative to education, learning and teaching?
And how have these influences shaped your thinking as an education specialist?
Very philosophical question. My philosophy shapes my practice and this has changed phenomenally over the years due to research and the varying context with in my teaching sphere. I have had to change my dispositions and attitudes towards my students, to become a bit more amenable and understanding especially within the Covid context. My methodology has evolved and now includes engagement, interactivity and more contemporary methods suited to andragogy. Great question Adrian Twissell
Dear Adita Maharaj
I have had similar experiences, particularly in relation to developing engagement.
I am guessing, then, that problem based learning, project based learning and discovery learning have been influential sources of inspiration/guidance/direction for you in the development of your practice?
Thank you for your contribution.
Dear Adrian Twissell
I feel human learning processes are affected by sensory input. Cognition plays a vital role in learning; learning requires cognition, and cognition involves learning. What makes cognitive education special is that it focuses on the processes of systematic logical thinking...
I think education should learner-centered. Theories that always influence me are the Socratic method, Learning by doing, Self-efficacy (Albert Bandura), cognitive psychology, Cognitive load during problem-solving: Effects on learning (John Sweller), Edgar Dale’s Cone of Experience, Cognitive Theory of Multimedia Learning (Richard Mayer), Connectivism (George Siemens & Stephen Downes), Cognitive-Affective Theory of Learning with Media (Roxana Moreno), Self-determination theory (Edward L. Deci & Richard M. Ryan), Cognitive Load Theory (Sweller, Ayres, & Kalyuga). I am from the architecture field (Architectural Education), I like the work of Prof. Ashraf Salama.