Name MonicaCamacho

Submitted on 9/27/2005 8:56:33 PM

Topic: LC3

 Settlage,J. (2000). Understanding the Learning Cycle: Influences on Abilities to Embrace the Approach by Preservice Elementary School Teachers. Science Education, 84, 43-50.

Summary

Science is a difficult and mind-blowing subject to teach. If a teacher does not have a positive self-efficacy and disposition toward the learning cycle in relation to science, it can effect the outcome of students instruction of the learning cycle. In this article, John Settlage did a quantitative research on how teachers attitudes and abilities to teach the learning cycle, and how these factors effects or affects instruction in the classroom. His reasoning of doing this study is, "because the learning cycle approach is still a relatively underutilized science teaching method despite intermittently appear to have difficulty implementing the learning cycle approach in their classrooms". He felt that this study was to explore elements that might adhere teachers abilities for comprehending the learning cycle. Settlage took a group of teachers from Preservice Elementary School and gave three assessments on how their self-efficacy and disposition toward science effect their performance of teaching the learning cycle. The results of the study showed that a significant reductions of teaching the learning cycle were evident in preservice teachers' science anxiety. The correlation between understanding the learning cycle and the tests given in the study on self-efficacy were found to be prevalent. Teachers who use more child-centered, activity-based lessons toward science have greater confidence in their effectiveness to teach the learning cycle. This study showed that teachers who have high anxieties and negative disposition toward the learning cycle can effect the teaching abilities in the classroom.

Reaction

This article was quite interesting. It gave me a clear understanding that we as Teachers need to be aware of our own attitudes toward science because it will effect our teaching. We need to fully understand the learning cycle and have the confidence to apply it in the classroom, because the outcome has enhanced students learning of the subject being taught. Settlage gave a correlation study that was significantly an eye-opener for all Teachers. Sattlage wanted to show the factors influencing teachers ability to understand the learning cycle. He was right to say that the learning cycle approach is underutilized. This is because Teachers' show the inabilities to teach it. He also felt that more education on the learning cycle should be sought. I also agree to the notion. Reading these learning cycle articles did in fact, gave me a higher understanding of how to teach the learning cycle. I am glad that this was my last learning cycle article to read. The others were lesson plan guides that will help me in the future, and this article gave me the down side of how not to be a teacher who can't teach using the learning cycle approach and the effects that it brings to the classroom. I know the importance of a better approach and creative approach to teach science.