*Piaget/Vygotsky/Skinner Remix*

While the theories of Piaget, Vygotsky, and Skinner are all very different they are also related through their differences. Vygotsky based his theories of students' learning on social interactions, while Piaget completely dismissed this aspect of learning. Instead, Piaget focused on the observation of learning being the teacher's role, and the developmental stages which constrain everyone's abilities to learn. In contrast to Piaget, Skinner thought that teachers play a proactive role in the learning process through behavioral training of their students, and thus weren't just observers.

Q1: Compare Vygotskys' theory of sociocultural learning and development to the contemporary theories we have learned in class. How are they the same? Different?
-This sociocultural learning theory of Vygotsky encompasses the other contemporary theories of constructivist learning theory and developmental learning theory. Vygotsky differs from them in that he builds upon the two theories by adding the idea that knowledge is added via social interaction. This theory states that social interaction helps students form their conceptual frameworks, and in so, focuses on the effects which others have on our conceptual framework.

Labeled as a level 3 in Bloom's Taxonomy, but because of the compare and contrast formate of the question I believe that it fits more into level 4: Analysis

Q2: What are some problems with using a "skinner box" for conditioning?
-The main problem that I see arising in the skinner box is the notion of control over students who react without comprehension. In my understanding, the rats in the skinner box don't always know how the food dispensing works, rather they repeat the behavior continuously in hope that the act will lead them to a reward. This blind repetition is exactly what we don't want to put on our students, rather we want them to understand why their actions are being positively or negatively reinforced.

-Labeled level 4 in Bloom's Taxonomy and I agree. I think this is great question to promote the analysis of the knowledge we acquired in our "jigsaw" and to look at it critically.

Q3: Debate whether it is better for a student to learn a concept individually.
-On one hand, students learning individually helps promote their independence and ability to problem solve on their own. In having students work individually they learn to trust themselves and realize what they are capable of accomplishing, without needing of help. On the other side of the spectrum however is the consideration of the negative effects that may arise if the student become frustrated in the task, or even feels as though they "failed" at it. If this does happen, it can have detrimental results. Thus, one can argue that group work may be a better environment to promote learning. In a group, students are able to bounce ideas and concepts off each other, as well as help each other when someone gets "stuck". However, this environment may lead students to become dependent on an individual for help rather than building their own personal strengths and thoughts. Thus, the argument has come full circle. It is apparent that there is no set answer in whether individual learning or group learning is better. Rather, they both have strengths and weaknesses.

-Labeled a level 5 question in Bloom's Taxonomy, but I think it is better suited as a level 6: Evaluation. This is because we are asked to look at the idea and see the positive and negative aspects of it which I think is more evaluation than synthesis.