Jerome Bruner was a clever man who wanted to help people learn better. He came up with ideas about how we understand and learn new things. He believed that learning is like building blocks – we add new ideas on top of what we already know.
Three Ways of Learning
Bruner said there are three ways we can learn:
- Enactive: This is when we learn by doing. For example, if you want to learn how to ride a bike, you need to actually get on the bike and practise.
- Iconic: This is when we learn by using pictures or images. For instance, looking at a picture of a bike can help you understand what it looks like and how it works.
- Symbolic: This is when we use words and symbols to learn. For example, reading a book about bikes can teach you about them without seeing or riding one.
How We Learn Best
Bruner thought that people learn best when they discover things by themselves. He called this “discovery learning.” Instead of just listening to someone tell you the answers, it’s better to try things out, make guesses, and figure things out on your own. This helps you remember better and understand more deeply.
The Spiral Curriculum
Bruner also had an idea called the “spiral curriculum.” This means learning the same topic more than once, but each time going deeper and learning more details. It’s like climbing a spiral staircase – you keep going around the same idea but get a better view each time.
Importance of Culture
Bruner said that we learn a lot from the people around us and the culture we live in. For example, the way people talk, the games they play, and the stories they tell can all teach us important things.
In short, Bruner believed that learning is active, fun, and happens best when we connect new ideas to what we already know!
Magister 