Daniel Graham

Each learner has unique experiences that shape their understanding of the world

Each learner also has a unique way of showing their understanding. Verbally, written, acting out, and many other ways allow teachers to assess the understanding of the children.

Learners should feel as though they are discovering the topics/concepts.

Safe environment where students feel comfortable sharing ideas.

Cultural Influences may determine viewpoints on specific topics.

Communication is important with one another. Students must interact with one another to engage thought processes.

Teachers must support the process of learning to think

Students should learn to reflect on their own thoughts and guide their learning. More student centered vs. teacher centered learning.

Understanding structure of the disciplines. What it means to think like a person

Transferring knowledge from one specific situation and applying it to other real world situations.

Theory – an idea that is a coherent explanation of a set of relationships. If the idea survives rigorous testing and research, that theory is said to have empirical grounding.

A theory is developed from practical experience as well as research.

A theory is modified over time based on the insights of practioners as well as the work of researchers.

Theories are interconnected.

Teachers can construct ways that will lead a student to the desired learning outcome. Understanding how a student learns will allow appropriate creation, implementation, and development of a lesson. Bridging prior knowledge and pre-requisite vocabulary into a new lesson and building on top will allow for learning theory to be utilized effectively.