Cambournes Conditions of Learning - Assignment Example

Name              :      xxxxxxx     Tutor               :      xxxxxxx                                                            Title                :       Literacy     Institution       :       xxxxxxx     @2011     Literacy There are various definitions of literacy with the common definition of literacy being  a person’s ability to read and also write. With this definition, the emphasis is on how an individual can use print and also written material to be able to communicate, understand and also interpret information or materials that is available. Literacy also goes a long way in helping a person to form masterly of words in speaking and also writing, and understand the spoken words and materials that are in print (Annandale et al 2003). According to UNESCO, basic education aids individuals in gaining the literacy skills that enables them to be prepared and face challenges in life. Therefore, literacy is important in life for it plays the major role of poverty eradication, reducing mortality in children, a tool in solving the problem of population increase, it also helps in attaining gender balance and also an important aspect in gaining political, social and economic development in a country without which development cannot be attained. In reference to National Literacy Trust, literacy also incorporates the ability to communicate in a meaningful way and the appropriate use of symbols distinct to different developmental ability levels. This definition of literacy takes the aspect of defining literacy in the context of the ability of a literate person being able to deliver messages and also achieving the desired goals in the delivery of either written and spoken messages. Literacy can also be considered as the ability to understand all forms of communication like body gestures, sounds, listening, and pictures, speaking and viewing like television. Literacy has advanced with modern technology like in advancement in computer literacy which is viewed as information and communication technologies. Literacy can be viewed as the ability to learn new skills and use them properly, they can range from basic to advanced ones although learning is a process, in literacy skills we mainly focus on the adult learner, the skills to be learnt depend from environment to the other. The concept takes into consideration that literacy is not static and thus an ongoing process. Literacy is also the state of been critical and the state of using it on people’s lives for when people convey information, they feel others experiences and emotions. This involves critical thinking and analyzing of what one has read. The state of been critical proves that the learner fully understands what he or she has learnt. Literacy can be considered as a crucial measure of regional human capital. This is because ignorance is expensive, and literate people use less capital to train them than the illiterate. Aspects of literacy that has to be in the definition include the ability for an individual to read and write. It is only when a person is able to read and write that he or she can be able to communicate and argue with other people and hold discussions with people. Literacy as the key to political and social development shows that literate people are more productive and useful to a wider job market as opposed to people who are illiterate. Bibliography Annandale, K., Bindon, R., Handley, K., Johnston, A., Lockett, L., & Lynch, P.  2003. First Steps: Linking assessment teaching and learning. (Ch. 3). Perth, W.A.: Rigby. Chapter 3   UNESCO website. Retrieved from http://www.literacyeducators.com.au/, retrieved on 15th December, 2011.   National Literacy Trust. Retrieved from, http://www.literacyeducators.com.au/, retrieved on 15th December, 2011.   Name              :      xxxxxxx     Tutor               :      xxxxxxx                                                                                             Title                :       Cambourne’s Conditions of Learning     Institution       :       xxxxxxx     @2011   Assignment 2 The Implications of Cambourne’s Conditions of Learning on the Classroom Teacher It’s the 21st century and a revamp of how learning is taking place in the classroom is slowly changing with incorporation from great contributors to the learning process for instance Cambourne’s Conditions of Learning (Cambourne 1998). Cambourne provides ways through which teachers actively support student’s process of learning in literacy acquisition. Therefore, teachers are able to understand how children learn and the conditions that make the learning process a success not only to children but also to the teacher. With these facts in mind, Cambourne’s conditions of learning centers on immersion, demonstration, use of practice, approximation, expectation, responsibility, response and finally engagement (Annandale et al 2003). According to constructivist, a learner tries to understand his/her surrounding through processes of interaction, action and reflection and thus Cambourne’s Conditions of Learning are in line with helping the learner construct meaning of the environment and also aids the teacher in helping the learner. One of the implication of Cambourne’s Conditions of Learning is that the teacher acts as the facilitator of the learning process , guiding the learner through the processes of learning. The eight models hypothesized by Cambourne aids the teacher and the learner in the discovery of learning and the conditions under which the learning process is to take place (Annandale et al 2003). In addition, the teacher understands what it takes to become an effective teacher in the classroom. For instance, through immersion, a teacher surrounds the classroom with print materials and the print materials encourages students to read and also write. On the same note too, with expectation, a teacher in providing materials that matches the literacy levels of the students creates a classroom environment with the expectations of learning. The eight concepts of learning also aids the classroom teacher in creating an environment that is conducive for learning in the classroom through creation of an interactive experience between the teacher and the learner. For instance, when a student engages in demonstrations, engagement, response and use practice to assimilate concepts in the classroom, the teacher and the learner interact through the teacher guiding the learner on what to do. Furthermore, learning becomes learner centered as opposed to the dogmatic learning of teacher contentedness. The concepts in Cambourne’s Conditions of Learning helps the teacher to capture the attention of the learner for instance through the use of practice and demonstration. This helps the teacher in maintaining the learner’s attention and thus the learner does not digress to issues away from the classroom. In addition, the teacher helps the learner to foster connections that are meaningful to prior understanding of concepts for instance if a learner is asked to demonstrate a concept that the teacher had previously demonstrated. In connection, a teacher is also able to intrigue a learner to participate in the learning process. A learner is able to be in control of his/her learning through taking responsibility and this helps the teacher to know the appropriate style that is distinct to each learner in the classroom. This helps the teacher to eliminate the traditional practices of using a blanket style to all learners. Teachers as educators can clearly identify which learning style is appropriate for each learner (Cambourne 1998). For instance, some learners may enjoy demonstrations and others practice which becomes evident when teachers apply Cambourne’s Conditions of Learning.   Bibliography Annandale, K., Bindon, R., Handley, K., Johnston, A., Lockett, L., & Lynch, P.  2003. First Steps: Linking assessment teaching and learning. (Ch. 3). Perth, W.A.: Rigby. Chapter 3   Cambourne, B. 1998. The whole story: natural learning and acquisition of literacy in the classroom. (Chapters 4 & 5 ) Auckland, NZ: Ashton Scholastic Name              :      xxxxxxx     Tutor               :      xxxxxxx                                                            Title                :       Children Literature     Institution       :       xxxxxxx     @2011   \ Assignment 3 Turner, E. S. 2003. Seven Little Australians. U. S. A. Public Domain Books. The book ‘Seven Little Australians” by Turner can be considered as a good children literature. The book involves the mischief that seven children engage in, in the absence of their biological mother and only have a father who is not caring at all (Turner 2003). This book as a choice for children literature involves the typical scenarios that children often engage in when they meet with other children to play and hence the conditions for the characters in Seven Little Australians can be generalized to all children. As a good children literature book, the book does not have any moral teachings for children and this intrigues the child to infer for her/himself of the consequences that can befall a child when he/she engages in naughty behavior (Jennings 2004). This rationale is aligned with the argument that children need to be inquisitive and form their own judgments and hence the book is appropriate for children’s reading.  The book is original with teaching centered on showing the children what can befall them when they become naughty instead of showing them what happens when they become naughty (Tunnel 2008). Thus the book is providing an understanding of children’s behavior (Thibault n.d.) and the consequences of what can happen when children choose to be naughty. Another reason as to why the book is a good literature for children is that the book is relevant to the children. The books is discussing children and hence applicable to children as opposed to having children read a book that they cannot identify with. In this case, children can identify with the book which is also discussing other children and therefore will help in demonstrating to the children that they need to be sensitive of other children that is the book is also evoking the feelings for other children (Winch 1993). The books also is helpful to parents in discussing with children about deviant behaviors for it can instigate a discussion between parents or guardians on children’s behaviors because the stories in children literature and more so the book are providing a scenario that is somewhat real life. “Seven Little Australians” is also appropriate as a book for children for it centers on the seven children and therefore eliminating the adult concept and influence in the book. The main focus is the characters “seven children” and therefore typical to children. The content is also realistic to the audience which is the children. The author has also presented a fair view of issues that impact on children as they grow in a nonfiction way. In as much as the characters are not real, the issues presented are real and children can identify with them (Saxby 1997).     Bibliography Jennings, P. 2004. The Reading Bug...and how to help your child to catch it. Australia: Penguin.Books. Chapter 1   Saxby, M. 1997. Books in the life of a child. South Melbourne: Macmillan. Pp 26 - 32 and pp 42 -44.   Thibault, M. n.d.. Children’s Literature promotes understanding. Retrieved from http://www.learnnc.org/lp/pages/635. Retrieved on 14th December, 2011. Tunnel, M. 2008. Children's Literature, Briefly. New Jersey, Ohio: Pearson. Chapter 3.   Turner, E. S. 2003. Seven Little Australians. U.S. A. Public Domain Books Winch, G. 1993. Now for a story. Sharing stories with young children. Australia: Phoenix Education. Chapter 3.   Read More