Reflection #2-Behaviorist vs. Constructivist format

When creating a lesson plan we can either use the behaviorist format or the constructivist format. There are many difference amongst these two approaches in delivering a lesson. A behaviorist lesson plan is created with the theory that with repetition a behavior will become automatic. A behaviorist lesson plan consist of eight steps. The first step is purpose and objective. Here the instructor will state what the student should gain from the lesson and what they will be able to do by the end of the lesson. Also, it should state how well the student will be able to achieve that certain task. The second step is the set. The set is like an “attention grabber”. It is the introduction to a lesson. An example of this would be asking questions before the lesson starts or showing pictures of what the lesson is going to be about. The third step is the input which is the skills the teacher will communicate to the students. The fourth step is modeling. The teacher shows an example of what the finished activity will look like. The fifth step is the guiding of the student through the lesson with the use of the hear/see/do method. The sixth step is one of the most important ones. It is a checking for understanding. It is very necessary that a teacher makes sure the student is understanding what is going on in the lesson. They can ask questions to ensure that everyone is grasping the material. The seventh step is realizing the students to work independently on the assignment. The last step is the closure to review what was learned from the lesson. The constructivist theory is based on the idea that we create our own thought about the world through experiences. The goal of the teacher is to prepare the student to problem solve in difficult situations. A constructivist lesson plan format involves six steps. The first one is the situation. The teacher will create a situation or setting for the student to explain. Then there is step two, grouping. The teacher needs to figure out how she will group the students to work on the lesson and how the materials will be grouped also, whether is be through physical interactions, writing or numerically describing something. The third step is the bridge. This step is designed to connect students knowledge to what they will learn from the lesson. This can be done by asking questions or starting a discussion. It is also somewhat like an “attention grabber”. The fourth step is questions. Whether they be questions to start a lesson or throughout a lesson, questions are important to ask in order to encourage children. The next step is to exhibit. It is a way for students to communicate to others what they are thinking as they are solving the situation. They can do this through a visual or audio representation such as charts, pictures, videos, clips, etc. The last step is a reflection of what the student learned and  felt about the situation and lesson.