A constructionist learning environment for teachers to model learning designs
In their article “A constructionist learning environment for teachers to model learning designs”, Laurillard et al. look at the spread of digital technologies, and the unfortunate discrepancy between the increasing demand for these systems, and lacking learning environment for their use (2013). The article studies how, without external support, most teachers find themselves overwhelmed with the new technologies and old obligations, and resort to simply mastering the bare minimum needed for their job, without exploring the technology. The authors advocate creation of an environment that would support learning of the digital mediums, and general support of teachers, through the adoption of the authors’ Learning Design Support Environment Project.
Can achievement goal theory provide a useful motivational perspective for explaining psychosocial attributes of medical students?
The article “Can achievement goal theory provide a useful motivational perspective for explaining psychosocial attributes of medical students?” studies comprehensive motivational theories, and how their application correlates with the students’ psychosocial competence and frustration tolerance, which are important traits for a skilled professionals (Madjar, Bachner & Kushir, 2012). The article proposes a hypothesis that mastery goal, which is associated with gaining knowledge on the subject, is associated with good psychosocial abilities, while performance goal, which is working for a positive evaluation, correlates with low frustration tolerance. The article proved its hypothesis with reliable study variables and meticulous analysis.
A social theory perspective on e-learning
The article “A social theory perspective on e-learning” studies the current research approaches towards e-learning (Remtulla, 2008). It observed that the majority of this research in education, business workplaces, or medical institutions focuses on budgeting, and the technical aspects of e-learning, with little consideration to socio-cultural aspects of its users and the setting it is used in. In its present state, e-learning is severely limiting towards users, and does not accommodate a lot of individual needs.
Theorizing education and educational research
The article “Theorizing education and educational research” studies the application of the philosophical method towards educational theory and educational research (Thompson, 2012). The author assessed how this method created new, effective ways of interacting with empirical data concerning educational problems. The author identified one of the key functions of the philosophical method as the ability to study a topic objectively, by purposefully defamiliarizing himself with it. The article effectively demonstrates the complexity of the educational process, and how the linear and predetermined nature that it is often associated with it can be detrimental. A lot of the research is based on the work Being and Time by Heidegger, which is used to evaluate the transformative nature of the philosophical method.
References
Laurillard, D., Charlton, P., Craft, B., Dimakopoulos, D., Ljubojevic, D., Magoulas, G., Masterman, E., & et al (2013). A constructionist learning environment for teachers to model learning designs. Journal of Computer Assisted Learning, 29(1).
Madjar, N., Bachner, Y.G. & Kushir, T. (2012). Can achievement goal theory provide a useful motivational perspective for explaining psychosocial attributes of medical students? BMC Medical Education 12(4).
Remtulla, K. A. (2008). A social theory perspective on e-learning. Learning Inquiry, 2(2), 139-149.
Thompson, C. (2012). Theorizing education and educational research. Studies in Philosophy and Education, 31(3), 239-250.