My Personal Experience
Back in 2019, I recall being really excited to build my first computer. Although I had all the necessary components, the idea of putting delicate computer parts together was entirely daunting – I never built a computer before! Knowing myself, I had to prepare for the process to avoid short circuiting hundreds of dollars worth of equipment. My technique was simple: watch youtube videos, read, and repeat. While watching these tutorials, I challenged myself to process information and asked questions along the way (e.g., which cable goes along with which port? Where exactly do I place these screws?). I also recall drawing diagrams to promote my learning, as well as reading an obscene amount of text repeatedly from the user manual guide to truly drill the information into my head. Overall, my process falls in line with the theory of cognitivism, where I engaged with the material primarily through internal thinking and exercised my problem-solving activities (OpenLearn Create, 2020).
What Stood Out To Me
Upon reading more on the theory of constructivism, I do wish more universities implement and encourage this type of learning, particularly with co-ops. Constructivism would allow students to actively engage with their knowledge through a social process (e.g., group collaboration, interactive dialogue), rather than passively receiving information. Coming this summer of 2023, I’ll be practicing constructivism while experiencing my first paid work-based in an industry related to Health Informatics. Upon hearing from my colleagues, it’s one of the most valuable experiences you can have during your academic studies. You truly get a sense of what your area of study has to offer and you get to apply the knowledge you gained throughout your studies to real world context. For my personal journey, I have my eyes set on remote work, with a focus on project management, or design research. I’m definitely looking forward to stepping outside of my comfort zone, and expanding the way I think through real-world problem solving!
References
OpenLearn Create. (2020). Cognitivism. https://www.open.edu/openlearncreate/mod/page/view.php?id=147079#:~:text=Cognitivism%20is%20a%20learning%20theory,learning%20as%20internal%20mental%20processes.
University at Buffalo. (n.d.). Constructivism. https://www.buffalo.edu/catt/develop/theory/constructivism.html
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