best when we go from concrete to abstract in a three-step process. First

comes hands-on action, then learning with images, and finally students transform

what they've learned into language. throughout the experience we constantly

revisit previously learned topics while teachers provide carefully structured

guidance along the way. And it seems to work.. In the 1980's the Singaporean

government decided to stop importing foreign textbooks and instead build the

world's best maths curriculum from scratch.

Since that time Singaporeans study fewer concepts with greater detail following

Bruner's guideline. Before we learn how well this worked out let's go through

each step of the theory with an example: First, we learn through en-active

representation. This happens in hands-on experiences ideally with real-world

applications: to divide 4 by 2, students learn to cut a cake into 4

slices so each can eat one now and bring one home later.

Step two is iconic representation: we now link our memories of the experience to

iconic pictures. Students are asked to draw a cake that was cut into four

pieces. Last comes symbolic representation. We

now use the images we internalized earlier and turn them into abstract

language such as mathematical symbols. Using a little bit of retrospection we

can easily solve the problem.

This last phase is also called language based because we are really just

learning the right words and symbols to express our thoughts. The actual maths

knowledge was acquired much earlier through hands-on experiences. Bruner

therefore advocated for the use of a spiral curriculum with continuous

repetition of the same fundamental ideas. The curriculum is comprised of three

characteristics: students revisit the same topic at regular intervals, the

complexity of the topic increases with each revisit, the new learning has a

relationship with previous learning. Teachers also use scaffolding, a term

coined by Bruner. Teachers do this by structuring activities based on students

existing knowledge and in a way that helps them to reach the desired learning

outcome. The teacher first demonstrates the process as the student watches then

the teacher lets the students have a go, steps back and offers support and

feedback when needed. Today, by the way, Singapore's fourth and eighth graders

are the world's best in both mathematics and science and Singapore's maths

curriculum is copied by educators from around the world. Jerome Bruner was born

blind in New York City in 1915. At the age of two modern medicine restored his vision.

Later he returned the favor by becoming a pioneer in cognitive development.

He believed that any subject can be taught in an intellectually honest form,

to any child, at any stage of development. What do you think about Bruna's theory

and his suggestion for better learning? Is this how you learn in your studies? If

not, what is one subject that you think could be made more understandable by

following his ideas?

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