After reading Module 21, there was one concept that really stuck: grouping in the classroom. Grouping relates to Vygotsky because he believes that learning is a social aspect and there are many different ways to group students in a classroom. Grouping is typically done in either a heterogeneous (variation of attributes) or homogeneous (little variation in attributes) in the classroom. More popular practices have shown within-class ability grouping where students may be heterogeneous in the classroom, but when it comes time to learn a lesson, they split into homogeneous groups based on ability. This is held to be the most effective way of grouping, even more effective than the traditional teacher-led class, heterogeneous groups and individual work. Vygotsky says no learning is individual and grouping in the class reiterates this. The social aspect of learning is evident in the grouping methods. Does ability grouping within the classroom negatively affect students if they know they're in a lower level group?
Module 21 has to do with Vygotsky based on the social aspect of learning. Vygotsky believes that learning is a social endeavor and is never individual. This comes into play in Module 21 based on the grouping of classrooms.
Vygotsky believes that development occurs throughout the whole life. Learning is a social process throughout the development of student whereas Piaget believes that development are certain points in a student's life that only occur through biological development. According to Piaget, development cannot occur throughout one's life but occurs at certain key points of a person's biological development.
Everything that I am doing right now is being influenced by someone else. You, Jackie, have scaffolded my learning to focus more on how children development and learn. Before Piaget and Vygotsky, I would not know to think of different beliefs about development and learning. I learned my language to type this post from other people and my culture makes resources, like this blog, available. MY learning has been influenced by all other people. I couldn't have learned anything without the influence of other people.
Grouping by ability has pros and cons. It definitely can negatively impact students who know they are in a lower level. This can hurt their self image and make them set lower goals. However, it can also provide extra help to those who need it. While there is no easy answer, as educators, it is important that we treat all students as capable, valuable, contributing individuals to help them achieve to the best of their respective abilities.
ReplyDeleteI think that ability grouping helps students who are in a higher level more than those whoa re in a lower level. When lower lever and higher level students are grouped together, I think that the lower ability groups benefits more because they are exposed to ideas that they would never think of on their own. However, the higher ability students may be annoyed with the ideas that the lower ability students have because they may think they know it all already. Also, lower ability students may not feel comfortable being in a mixed group because they may be embarrassed about their lower level. I think this may cause tension in the classroom and may lead to bullying.
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