He also drew a S +R = L diagram for Behaviorism
Where S symbolized the Stimulus , R for Reinforcement which in turn leads to L (Learning), thus explaining Behaviorist pedagogy to be akin to drill and practice, with somewhat following a manual, reminding me of the Rote learning debate that was brought to the fore recently in local forums.
Ironically, what i've just stated earlier on in this blog post (where I described Mr. Alfred as having said so and so, introduced so and so) being one of the examples of Behaviorism, where it is somewhat what I see and get is what I regurgitate.
Such, perhaps could have been the concern of our Government recently, and I was waiting for the announcement of the Primary school curriculum changes before I decided to blog this weeks reflections.
And true enough, it could be inferred that MOE is veering away from too much emphasis on Behaviorist pedagogy,
as the latest announcement to do away with year-end examinations in Primary 1 & 2 were announced.
Instead of examinations, the PERI Committee has recommended that schools introduce bite-sized tests for Primary 1 and 2 students, and for parents to be given regular updates on the children's progress.
Senior Minister of State for Education Grace Fu, chairperson of Primary Education Review and Implementation (PERI) Committee, said: "We'd like our students to enjoy the process of learning, and therefore having assessment that is tailored to the way that we teach is important.
"Having them sit through very important year-end exams may not be the best idea and I think there are better ways of assessing their progress. We can find better substitutes than just a one-off examination at year-end."
(Source: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/405140/1/.html)
Perhaps it could spark the heralding of emphasis on Cognitivism , where the learner has to construct his or her own meaning from the instruction, and seen in the emphasis towards more arts in primary schools, where there would be a new
Programme for Active Learning (PAL) where students will have to participate in modular activities in two broad areas – Sports & Outdoor Education and Performing & Visual Arts.
Why, this would be relevant to E-Learning in primary schools as well, as gone are the days where I had to play software games which were purely drill and practice for IT lessons (although there were colourful buttons and graphics, the nuance was still very rote based)
Why, such could also bring in the Sociocultural stance of learning in such schools,where having the students to do Sports and Outdoor activities together could be a first step to collaboratiive and imitative learning if it could be extrapolated into teaching pedagogy when they start to learn through the computer.
I remember, they started to introduce E-learning through the computer by Primary 4, and i feel that you are not too young to engage in such collaborative learning at such an age, as children nowadays are very bright and full of ideas, it will be interesting to see them collaborate and learn through the Sociocultural pedagogy!
Very interesting post. Yes Azmie, doing away with final exam for primary 1 and 2 is indeed a big first step in moving away from Behaviourist pedagogy and systems of assessing academic proficiencies. The longer term challenge for MOE is to do the like for highers levels of education. My core research interest is in teaching with technologies (ICT) and it was found that while teachers revere the pedagogical approach of learning by doing as far as teaching and learning with technologies are concerned, in other word...Sociocultural pedagogy, inertia puts them back to the track of Behaviourist drill and practice uses of the computer when confronting the grade-based exams. In my opinion, recalling vaguely from a lecturer in CDTL where I had my teaching training in NUS, because funding public schools in many respects hinges on a system of meritocracy, and that the methods to measure proficiencies are pegged predominantly on quantitative methods, grade-based exams are here to stay. Perhaps sometime in the future, when there is greater systemic changes on what tantamount to measuring proficiency / mastery of this and that will we begin to see a real and sustainable change in teaching practices including teaching with ICT.
ReplyDeleteI like the way you brought in MOE into this topic.
ReplyDeleteIt is great that they are trying to move away from the traditional approach of rote learning (behaviorism) and trying to inculcate a culture that emphasizes holistic learning. But I feel that this needs to be bottom-up in addition to the top-down approach.
I mean, talking about doing away with Exams.. I read on an online blog that PSLE is like the new O levels! With the IP programme, we do away with O levels, so in order for students to stand a better change for this Programme, they have to make sure they do well in PSLE.
On the topic of e-learning in schools, I remember those math problem sums applications that we had to do in lower primary. I remember them calling it CBL - Computer Based Learning. We had only one computer lab in school, and were so excited each time we had lab lessons. Then in Secondary School they tried to put computers in classrooms (and we ended up playing games in between lessons). In JC, there was a learning portal online.
Fastforward to now, I realized that even Primary Schools has IVLEs! How advanced.
I too think that your post is interesting with the diagram and the ‘live’ local MOE example that you brought in and apply your theory on. It goes to show that MOE is indeed aware that examinations are not the only method to assess a student’s performance even though it seems to be currently the best method. It is good to see that MOE has initiated the shift from major examinations for lower primary levels as that period should be rather carefree for the children and that learning should not be stressful. Even though it seems that MOE is now at its initial stages, I believe they will take it further from here.
ReplyDeletehey, nice post you got here.. anyways, i'm glad that the MOE has finally realized that the old system is way too pressurizing for the young ones and from the changes that we are seeing these days, we are moving in the right direction.
ReplyDeletegoing abit off track here, I feel that sometimes, the kiasu parents commenting in the Straits Times about our education system can be irritating..I'm sure it won't be long before some other parent will find something wrong with this new system.. Like are the kids learning enough,shouldn't this and that be examinable and all that other stuff... Just an opinion..
hey bro, you got a interesting post here. I am glad that MOE is changing the education system here. This enable talents in art and sport arena to be given recognition. In addition, our younger generation will be groomed to be a more all-rounded student, and not just on academic aspect.
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