Objectivism, or Direct Instruction, is a theory that is a more traditional approach to teaching students. You can see this type of directed instruction in many classrooms today. The teachers are very firm in what is to be taught and how it is going to be taught. Alot of teachers who still use this way of teaching believe that if it isn't broken, there's no point in fixing it. Although it is a tried and tested way of teaching that has been successful in teaching students for many years, it is an increasingly hated way of teaching for the majority of students. They dislike the rigid instruction that they are subjected to every day. Each teacher who uses the objectivist theory in their classroom follows a similar formula:

• Introduction/Review - set the stage for learning
• Development - model the expected learning outcomes by providing clear explanations and examples
• Guided Practice - monitor and engage pupils with assigned learning tasks
• Closure - bring the leasson to a conclusion by highlighting what was covered
• Independent Practice - provide learning tasks that are independent of teacher assistance
• Evaluation - assess pupil progress

Constructivism, or Inquiry-Based Learning, is based on a cognitive learning theory in which students use past experiences to create their own knowledge, using teachers as guides. This is a more liked way of teaching, as it allows both students and teachers to be more flexible in the classroom. Although there are a few technology applications that can only be used with the objectivist approach, most can be used by both constructivists and objectivists. The constructivist theory was created using a combination of four different concepts: social learning, scaffolding, Piaget's stages of development, and Gardner's multiple intelligences. During the time when America was fighting racial and gender inequality, John Dewey shaped his beliefs about education. Social activism theory is a theory that Dewey created, believing that social awareness was extremely important in the context of learning. Dewey is often referenced as the "Grandfather of Constructivism".

During this lesson, we were required to read a short excerpt called The Poor Scholar's Soliloquy and comment on a discussion board about it. After reading the short story about the child's time in school, I had observed that, although the teacher seems to be teaching the students "by the book", this particular student is not learning very much at all. It sounds like he is beginning to give up on school, because he doesn't understand what is being taught. I see it all the time in my own workplace, in which students will think they're stupid because they don't understand something, when in reality, it's just difficult to understand and it's not their fault. This teacher is using an objectivist approach with her students, but I believe a more constructivist approach would have been better, for this student in particular. I would recommend anyone in the education field to read this piece, because it can be very enlightening.