Describe an example from your life of when you were taught using each method described in this article: behaviorism, cognitivism, and constructivism.
Share a story about your best learning experience (could be a formal course or something more personal). Why did you enjoy it?
An example I will use to answer both of these questions is my preparation for the Optometry Admissions Test (OAT) throughout the summer. This exam assessed my proficiency in Biology, General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Reading Comprehension, Physics, and Quantitative Reasoning. While most material was meant to be reviewed, there were a couple areas I needed to explore on my own as I did not have a chance to take courses at UVic that would have prepared me for those portions of the test. Similarly to Kiera,
I am a mostly visual learner. So, as a way to make the preparation process more engaging, I have decided to purchase a study tool called the OAT Bootcamp. This tool gave me access to videos and diagrams, practice questions, and tutors available to promptly respond to my inquiries.
Certain parts of the exam simply required me to know the answer. When the stimulus in the form of a question came up on the screen, I reacted to it by clicking the correct multiple-choice response after making the right association. This was a relatively rare occurrence, however, as most material was not meant to be memorized but rather comprehended on a level that allowed for efficient problem-solving in cases where the concept presented was not as explicit.
The cognitivism method was used very often whenever I had to deal with new material. Bootcamp tutors did a marvelous job at utilizing visual aids and examples as well as relating novel information to prior topics in their video and text explanations. This helped make concepts so much more meaningful and easier to remember, and I agree with Kiera that it is beneficial for resolving confusion.
The constructivism method was also very valuable, as there were tons of practice questions and full-length exams for me to take. The OAT makers emphasized the importance of skills such as divergent and critical thinking, especially in cases where we encountered unfamiliar problems. Since constructivists emphasize that memory is context-dependent and that information needs to be provided using multiple approaches, I find it to be very relevant here as the material I have learned could be presented in so many ways on the actual exam. The trick was to recognize which concept was being shown and solve the problem accordingly.
The OAT Bootcamp was a major reason why I enjoyed studying for my OAT. Its creators and tutors brought fun and creativity into what could have otherwise been a dull and overwhelming process. Thanks to this tool, I was able to test my abilities beyond that of memorizing material – I have instead engaged with it in more than one way, resulting in understanding that later helped me get the score I desired on my actual OAT.
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