Seneca
Sign up

Context in the Education Landscape 1

CPD: Generative Learning (by Zoe & Mark Enser), topic 1.1.1

Constructivism

Where it falls

Where it falls

  • Generative learning falls into a broadly constructivist model of learning in which learning is viewed as something that happens in the mind of each learner and is shaped by their own experiences and the prior knowledge that they bring to the topic.
Criticisms

Criticisms

  • One of Richard Fox’s (2001) criticisms of constructivism can highlight potential pitfalls of generative learning that we as teachers should be aware of: learning is an active process.
  • This is one of the key tenets of generative learning – that pupils need to go beyond passively being around the thing to be learnt and actively engage in it.
Criticisms (cont.)

Criticisms (cont.)

  • However, as Fox points out, the human mind is perfectly capable of consuming information passively and engaging with it.
  • This means that we should be aware that although pupils can generate learning through the constructive and interactive methods discussed in Fiorella and Mayer’s work, it would be a mistake to think they can only generate learning in these ways.

Test yourself on Context in the Education Landscape 1

  • What is one of the key tenets of generative learning?

  • How do we learn?

  • What does Mayer's SOI model of memory stands for?

Practise this topic for free