Back to: Learning and Teaching – Unit 3
Introduction
Knowledge is the information and skills one has acquired through education and experience. This may be in the form of theoretical understanding or practical experience. What is learned can be defined as knowledge. Learning is an acquisition of knowledge.
There are three forms of learning which are as follows:
- Construction of knowledge
- Transmission of knowledge
- Reception of knowledge
The construction of knowledge can be considered as the knowledge gained by oneself. Transmission and reception of knowledge may be regarded as the knowledge acquired through the teachings of another person.
Difference Between Learning as the Construction of Knowledge and Transmission and Reception of Knowledge
The major differences between learning as the Construction of Knowledge and Transmission and Reception of Knowledge are as follows:
Functioning
Learning as construction is the experience acquired by the learner through their own understanding whereas transmission and reception is the knowledge acquired and received by the learner from the instructor.
Role of the Learner
In the construction of knowledge, there is the active participation of the learner whereas, in transmission and reception of learning, there is the passiveness of the learner.
Process of Learning
The personal experience of the learner plays a huge role in the construction of knowledge. In the transmission and reception of knowledge, learning taught by the teacher to the student is of primary importance.
The difference in Orientation
The learning is self-directed in the construction of knowledge whereas the learning is teacher-directed in transmission and reception of knowledge.
The focus of Learning
In learning as a construction, the knowledge gained is learner-centered whereas in learning as transmission and reception, the learning is teacher-centered.
Nature of Learning
Learning as construction of knowledge is intrinsic and learning as transmission and reception of knowledge is extrinsic.
Retention of Knowledge
In learning as the construction of knowledge, what will be learned is not fixed whereas in transmission and reception of knowing what will be learned is predetermined.
Conclusion
Thus, the information that is gained through one’s own experiences and understanding rather than from one another is learning as the construction of knowledge. The knowledge that is being transmitted from the teacher to the student where the latter is purely receiving the information shared to them is known as learning as transmission and reception of knowledge.
