Reflections 3

In the past, as students, I have experienced different types of pedagogical approach. The most common one is project based learning and the least common one is inquiry based learning. From time to time, from primary school up till now, I have done many projects either as a requirement from the teacher or voluntary. So far the projects I’ve been involved and the people I’ve been working with gave me good opportunities to grow. I’ve learned to share my ideas and also at the same time comment on other’s ideas. It provided me with good communication skills and the confidence to speak up. I don’t remember any formal inquiry based learning in class. I have done inquiry based learning on my own, when I was curious on a certain subject, I would carry out my own searches on my own.

All the different approaches are closely related to one another. They served as an alternative to the traditional teaching approaches where the teacher talks and students listen. There is only a slight difference between them. The basic difference is that some approaches require team work whilst other approaches can be done individually. Example, project-based learning requires group collaboration, whilst resource-based learning can be done either individually or as a team according to the teacher’s requirement.

ICT tools serve an important role in these approaches. Most of these approaches require the students to look not only in their textbook but also from other sources like the internet. Search engines can facilitate students to search for information. Youtube can provide the visual advantage to learning whilst blog discussions can help the students seek other’s opinions and feedback on them.

All in all I’ve learn that there are different approaches to learning. Teachers should try to incorporate the different approaches in class to give the students the opportunity to learn in a different way. According to Vygotsky’s socio-cultural theory, students’ full cognitive development requires social interaction. Students need to interact to learn more. Therefore, approaches like project-based learning will provide the students with the independence and the social environment to learn.