Preparing Students for Learning Through Invention Activities

Introduction

Different forms of instruction are better suited to different learning outcomes. For example, repetition is commonly used for developing motor skills and reinforcement is commonly used for fostering desired attitudes or behaviors. Regardless of the specific pedagogy used, humans generate knowledge and meaning from an interaction between their experiences and their ideas. Many educational settings make it difficult for students to make this connection. For example, some disciplines focus mostly on problem-solving routines, but instruction in problem-solving routines is unlikely to prepare students for many other situations they are likely to encounter. Instead of focusing exclusively on problem-solving techniques, instruction should also focus on students’ abilities to learn from new situations and resources. Preparing students for future learning, arguably the greatest educational outcome an instructor could hope to achieve, requires the development of new instructional...