Forum 1: Taking Learning Seriously

Read the article, Taking Learning Seriously. After reading post the following in a response:

1. What do you think of the author's pathology premise? Why?

2. Which of the pathologies is the worst? Why?

3. Give an example of each from your own experience. Think hard.

4. How can technology help to overcome these pathologies?

My Response:

1. What do you think of the author's pathology premise? Why?

I agree with the author's pathology premise. The Shuman (1999) states that the major pathologies in learning involves malfunctions of memory, understanding and application. The author, finds that there are three main pathologies they are amnesia, fantasia and inertia. I think as educators we need to be aware of these pathologies and to try to stop them from happening with technology.

2. Which of the pathologies is the worst? Why?

I think that they are all really bad. However, I think the worst is fantasia. Fantasia is the idea that students think that they absolutely understand something however they do not. The reason why I think that fantasia is the worst is due to the fact that the misconceptions can interfere with significant amounts of good teaching at a later point. The only way to resolve this pathology is for one to check their sources to make sure that is indeed a fact or a misconception.

3. Give an example of each from your own experience. Think hard.

Amnesia- When I was an Undergraduate, I took three English courses because they were required. I do not remember what those courses were about and what they taught besides reading and writing essays. I cannot tell you what essays or what readings I did. Fantasia- I have a friend who would constantly argue about semantics and take up sides without thoroughly investigating the situation or topic often that friend misconceptualizes the facts. Inertia-Most of the information I retained in Computer Science and Mathematics have become inert since I have not been using them at work or in any of my current courses.

4. How can technology help to overcome these pathologies?

Amnesia-Websites, mainly searching for facts which it can help with overcoming amnesia if you are forgetting a fact or other sources of information you can look it up easily.

Fantasia-Again websites, and news articles these can help in preventing fantasia they help you with investigating a situation or topic fully.

Inertia-Games and other forms of educational entertainment which allows you to apply your retained information from courses you have taken.

Student 1 Replied Response:

David I believe you make a great point about fantasia. I initially believed amnesia to be the worst because it is difficult to teach when an individual does not remember things. Reviewing and using different ways of teaching can help with this process. With the discussion we had during class, watching the video entitled “A Private Universe”, and now reading your response I know believe fantasia to be the worst for a student to deal with. Misconceptions are very difficult to eliminate from one’s mind so these ideas will stick with someone for a long time. It’s important to develop a solid and true foundation so that misconceptions do not happen. Therefore I strongly agree with you that we need to check our sources and really focus on the correct facts when we are teaching something.

Student 2 Response to the Topic:

1. What do you think of the author's pathology premise? I find the author’s pathology premise interesting. I believe that students learn material in different ways some by reading it in the textbook, some by actually putting it into practice and seeing it for themselves. It makes sense that people remember things they learn in different ways.

2. Which of the pathologies is the worst? Why? I think that the worst pathology is amnesia. The reason I say this is because you educate yourself for the purpose of learning something. But then you ask someone what they learned in those classes and they tend to forget. You would think that if it was important for you to learn it you would also remember it.

3. Give an example of each from your own experience.

Amnesia – When I was in undergraduate school I had to a lot of the same content courses. I can remember the professors I had but the content all runs together. Some material I remember but others I cannot remember.

Fantasia – I believe I experience Fantasia when it comes to math. When I try to help students figure out how to solve math equations I am confident that I remember the techniques and how to solve it. I then go back and try to solve it again and get a different answer.

Inertia – I believe I have inertia when it comes to statistics. When I was learning statistics bit by bit it was over my head and I struggled through it. Years later, when I was a substitute teacher for a statistics class I could not remember the material or the steps to achieving the answer.

4. How can technology help to overcome these pathologies? I think technology can help us overcome these pathologies because technology now gives us a way to go back and research things that we may have forgotten. Technology also gives us a way to learn new things in a different format. Technology also offers a way for you to view material such as YouTube. You can also have material read to you through certain websites.

My Replied Response:

I think you make a good point about amnesia. I also think to combat amnesia teachers should make the lessons engaging, and interesting so the students can remember and want to learn it. I feel that it is much harder for students to deal with Fantasia as the student do not realize why, or how they are wrong and students will try to fit what they learned into their own perceptions which was shown in A Private Universe video. At least with amnesia, and inertia there is always your notes, search engines, and videos which would allow you to relearn what you forgot.