Week 2 Responses

1). Epistemology is the study of knowledge and how one uses processes and theories to approach knowledge. What determines the adequate knowledge from inferior knowledge is the concept of this study. Observation is the cornerstone of epistemology and as we know perception is most students’ reality in this generation. Differences may develop from a cultural process, three memory systems, and situated perspectives that could alter the way the information is internalized. Complex learning goals and higher order thinking processes are the differences in learning theories.

2). A contextualist epistemology is how one perceives the normal standards of beliefs, reason of inquiry, and how to efficiently pursue these theories of beliefs in an intelligent manner. The method itself has been overshadowed by other learning theories but it still widely used. Differences in the relativist and positivist stance, is the all of them deviate from the traditional methods of beliefs.  Major differences that I observed was the flexibility to accept the knowledge and what conditions must be met for someone to know the knowledge. Behaviorist or radical constructivist approaches to learning differ from being more carefully designed with interesting work assigned to the participants and linking distinct stimuli in the learning objectives.

3).Behaviorist problem solving consists of self control and incorporating strategies needed to overcome the problem, while constructivist is when activities are used along with reflection to tackle the problem. Behaviorist uses a more self regulatory hand off approach with the intent of wanting to overcome the problem, and constructivist is more of a trial and error method that allows the participant to have an opportunity to use everything to tackle the problem. Personally, I am more of a constructivist problem solver because it allows the student to know that they have tried more and boosts confidence, but the self control factor may discourage some students.