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Walter Gong
1933 - 2000
San Jose University Professor
Patriarch
Educational Theories: A three person problem
Theory:
Walter Gong campaigned for Exponential Learning and Teaching. Walter's theory revolves around taking an idea and breaking it into it's simplest parts. He simplified learning / teaching into three core components:
1 - Knowledge
2 - Roles
3 - Experience
Walter also created the 'L/T' symbol - it stands for 'Learner / Teacher.' Gong, was a firm believer that teachers must be learners and learners must teach others.
Walter Gong influences many with his classes at SJU, and countless others through conversation, media, and other sources. He is perhaps best known for his L/T model which divides Learning / Teaching into 4 distinct categories.
• Purpose (Why?)
Why has the author tried to communicate? To share an insight? To convince? To criticize? To entertain? Specifically why is he or she making the effort to say something, in that way, and that that time, to his/her audience?
• Central Message (What?)
What exactly is the point, the essence, the main idea? Find it and force yourself to make it into a clear complete statement; e.g., "Her central argument is that . . . ."
• Validation / Application (How?)
How has the author supported his or her central message (validation), or how can that idea be used (application)? Find the supporting evidence - ideas, facts, images, etc.--that the author uses to convince you. If you identify the pattern of support, you will have outlined the piece of writing.
• Values / Assumptions (Where?)
Where does the author stand? What does he or she believe in or value? What is assumed or taken for granted in this piece of writing? Who is the assumed audience of this piece? As a reader, work to pay attention to and discover the values, beliefs, biases, assumptions (sometimes overt, sometimes subtle) underlying what you read.
Gong taught that when properly applied to teaching the above method will allow Learners to 'Capture' the information for long term growth and learning rather than simply 'knowing' the facts. Gong stressed heavily the importance of experience in the L/T model - Learner/Teachers must 'experience' the application/how of an idea and see the where/values for their learning to be long term.
Summary: Gong emphasized the importance of L/T - or Learner/Teachers. Learners must teach others and teachers must be learners. Gong focused on exponential growth in learning and teaching - stressing that L/T's must experience whatever it is they are being taught in order for them to turn that information into long term growth. They must be given the: What? How? Why? And Where?
References:
http://www.draconian.com/dragons/Images/Chinese%20Dragons/Chinese-Dragon-Green-23-large.jpg
http://www.vanderbilt.edu/cft/resources/teaching_resources/activities/capture.htm
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