CFI Blog #1

Constructivist Vs. Positivist Article


What is an Epistemology
Epistemology is the branch of philosophy that seeks to define "knowledge" that seeks to explain what it means "to know" something, that seeks to understand how humans come to "know" things.

Differences between Constructivist and Positivist
Positivist Epistemology
-conceptualize knowledge as a thing
-verifiable information born of scientific investigation
-people find the facts and then teach them
Constructivist Epistemology
-"knowledge" is constructed by human beings when they assign meaning to data
-Constructivist's don't perceive knowledge as an external thing
-Students build knowledge based on experience

My Epistemology
I would have to say that I am a combination of both since I read the facts and go off of them but I also will learn to do things on my own with no or almost no reference. I am a Positivist when it comes to learning how about technical things such as how a engine works and how long the plane I am flying will fly. Its hard to be a Constructivist in these situations since figuring out how long a plane will stay in the air without reading the operating handbook is foolish. I love learning how to do new things and usually take a Constructivist approach since it is fun to learn something without any help and then compare it to how other people accomplish the same tasks.


Ask the Cognitive Scientist
Which modality do I learn best with
I believe that I am a visual learner since I can remember a lot when something is shown to me rather then spoken to me or written down. I have always enjoyed taking physical things apart and seeing how they work rather then just  reading or listening to someone speak about them. I think the best way to learn about a subject is to incorporate all three modalities into the lecture or lesson in order to give a very through explanation.
Points that I will use in my teaching
I will try and teach to the students modality as much as possible and not just which modality is the best for the subject. This is important since you want your student to gain as much knowledge as possible and if a student is a visual learner and the best way to learn about something is a book then I would try and incorporate as much visual information as possible for the student to view along with the reading.
Another point that I will use is to incorporate all three modalities into the lessons in order to teach a concept or aircraft system to the best of my ability. For example, if I was going to teach a student about the use of a VOR I would have them read about them in a textbook the night before a lesson then explain to them in the classroom setting about VORs and answer any questions and then go up in a plane or flight trainer and demonstrate the use of a VOR. This lesson would incorporate all three modalities and would cover all the information a student would need to have regarding VORs