Learning Ability: Genetic or Environmental?

Francis Galton

• First to introduced the “nature-nurture” controversy

• Impressed by the fact that genius tended to run in families

• For him, there is a strong inherited component in intellectual ability

John Locke

• A 17th century English philosopher• Believed that a child was born a “tabula

rasa”̶ blank slate• His belief placed emphasis on learning as

a way of explaining how children’s knowledge develops with age

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

• An 18th century Swiss philosopher• Produced the book “Emile”• Inside it, he gave the reasons why children

should be treated as children and not as a miniature adults

• Based on him, children are innately good who follow the normal course of development accdg to nature’s plan

Our ability to learn..

• Is affected by biological or genetic predisposition (nature) and environmental factors (nurture)

• NATURE ̶ refers to various external factors to which we are exposed from conception to death

• Environmental factors account for the nature of the environment as well as its physical characteristics

Several dimensions of Environmental Factors:

• PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT̶ Prenatal nutrition and seconhand smoking

• SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT̶ Peer pressure and media

• It can range from the most immediate (families, friends and neighbors) to larger contexts (schools, churches, and local governments) to macro factors (global warming, human rights, violence, prostitution, int’l politics and more)

What is nature?

• Refers to heredity or the genetic makeup of genes which means the information encoded in the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)

• Also refers to biological component such as tendencies and capabilities which unfold themselves throughout the lifespan

Heredity

• Are specific genetic predispositions that potentially explain why we have individual differences

• It also is defined as “The biological process whereby genetic factors are transmitted from one generation to the next”

Our brain

LOCALIZATION ̶ refers to the brain activity underlying a specific cognitive function that is concentrated in a particular part of the brainPLASTICITY ̶ refers to the idea that the cognitive function of the brain changes in response to experience

• All genetically programmed influences on the development of individuals are possibly influenced by the environment

• In like manner, all environmental influences on the development of physical and psychological aspects comprise genetic components

BEHAVIORAL GENETICS ̶ aimed at understanding various differences in a wide variety of human characteristics

“The quintessence of this discussion on heredity and environment lies in the comparative significance of each of these to human development and how environmental factors can create a dramatic impact on the development of genetic predisposition which may constrain its development or offset the inherited human capacity and potential.”

Two different views..

To explain physical and psychological development:1. ENVIRONMENTALISTS̶̶ Human development is characterized by pliability or flexibility2. HEREDITARIANS̶̶ Human development reflects genetic potentials

Designing the Learning Environment

• The perspective of nature-nurture have influenced educational practices in general and the teaching-learning contexts in particular

• Educators believe that the development of individuals reflect both genetic and environmental potentials

What is a Learning Environment?

• One of the many contexts in which development is expected to occur

• Designing it is the focus of every teacher• It is not just limited to the classroom,

because learning environment is everywhere

Classroom as a Learning Place

• Many individuals first learn and teach in the classroom

• It is an arena where there is information exchange

• To make it more effective and productive for learning, teachers should design it effectively in order to achieve our objectives

Designing the learning environment accounts for the

following:1. Active participation2. Practice3. Individual differences4. Feedback5. Realistic contexts6. Social interaction

Technology in the Classroom• Other concept that has changed the

learning environment is technology• The advent of technology has ushered in

the age of asynchronous learning making it possible for us to have an easy access into stupendous information

• Modes of learning have been made more sophisticated

Example: College courses are now offered online

Accommodating Diversity

• Both hereditarians and environmentalists have greatly influenced our educational practices

• Development of individuals manifests genetic potentials which give way to mainstreaming and ability grouping

• Teachers put students in ability groups and provide them with activities more appropriate for their classification

• The emergence of students with special needs, who are very talented, and who are physically, mentally, or socially impaired gives birth to inclusive and special education

• The focus of these educational practices is placed on individual development in the context of assessed potential so that he or she can benefit from certain educational programs

Integration and Mainstreaming

• To the viewpoint of environmentalists:1. They believe that the environment plays a crucial role in shaping human development2. Growing children should be allowed to experience a wide range of environments that harness individual developmentWhy? So that their learning difficulties will be mainstreamed, thereby giving them the chance to take advantage of the rectangular classroom

Children with disabilities

• These children have very limited capacity for development such as the ability to speak, read, or write.

• As a result, they are restricted to their special schools where they mingle with the same children with special needs

• Today, those children are included in the rectangular classroom

• Everyone has the right to be placed on equal footing regardless of their race, culture, tradition, or beliefs they have as their capacity for development

• It is therefore the teachers role to stimulate learning by providing them an encouraging classroom environment

• The developmental dimensions of children are not a fixed entity, it is a variable that can be nurtured and developed