photo by:
chefranden As someone who learns new things every day, you undoubtedly have ideas about what "knowledge" and "learning" are. Such ideas are collectively known as epistemological beliefs. Included in people's epistemological beliefs are their views about the certainty, structure, and source of knowledge; about the speed with which learning occurs; and about the nature of learning ability. As children and adolescents develop, many (though not all) of them change their beliefs about knowledge and learning. The table below lists and describes the typical developmental changes of epistemological beliefs in children.
| With regard to... | Children initially believe that... | As they develop, they may eventually begin to realize that... |
| The certainty of knowledge | Knowledge about a topic is a fixed, unchanging, absolute "truth." | Knowledge about a topic (even that of experts) is tentative and dynamic; it continues to evolve as ongoing inquiry and research add new insights and ideas. |
| The simplicity and structure of knowledge | Knowledge is a collection of discrete, largely unrelated facts. | Knowledge is a set of complex and interrelated ideas. |
| The source of knowledge | Knowledge comes from outside the learner, for instance from a teacher or "authority" of some kind. | Knowledge is derived and constructed by learners themselves. |
| The speed of learning | Knowledge is acquired quickly, and in an all-or-nothing fashion, or else not at all. As a result, people either know something or they don't. | Knowledge is acquired gradually over time. Thus people can have greater or lesser degrees of knowledge about a topic. |
| The nature of learning ability | People's ability to learn is a stable quality over which they have little control. | People's ability to learn can improve with practice and the use of better strategies. |
Sources: Astington & Pelletier, 1996; Hammer, 1994; Hofer & Pintrich, 1997, 2002; Hogan, 1997; Kuhn & Franklin, 2006; M.C. Linn, Songer, & Eylon, 1996; W.G. Perry, 1968; Schommer, 1994a, 1994b, 1997.
Excerpted From:
© ______ 2007, Merrill, an imprint of Pearson Education Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The reproduction, duplication, or distribution of this material by any means including but not limited to email and blogs is strictly prohibited without the explicit permission of the publisher.
Ask a Question
Have questions about this article or topic? AskToday on Education.com
HOME COOKING
10 Ways to Spice Up Your Barbecue
CELEBRATION
Happy Graduation
WORKBOOKS
New Workbooks Are Here!
Popular Articles
- 20 Great Graduation Quotes
- Examining Possible Causes of ADHD
- Can Inventiveness Be Taught?
- What Do Test Scores Really Say About a School?
- Great Gifts for Middle School Grads
- Unraveling the Mystery of the Allergy Epidemic
- 9 Ways to Encourage Early Literacy
- Ten Great High School Graduation Gifts
- Is High-Stakes Testing Cheating Your Kid?
- Picky Eaters: Tips for Tackling and Myths Debunked
Add your own comment