Using Education Theories in Explaining Learning History - Essay Example

Introduction The content of this essay lies in my learning history and how various factors has aided and influenced my decisions in this regard as a child certain influences from those around me has influenced my education life that has led to my adult education program. Just as social learning theory postulated, where influences from around us tend to impact on how we learn. According to Bandura (1977) Human behaviors are known to reciprocate interaction from their cognitive features and those environmental factors that influences them. In this vain, the human learning process has added to the conformation to social changes and it enables human actions and social activities to continue. In this case, Stone (1998), says the behaviouarlism is a key factor of the social learning theory. This goes to include a collection of psychological theories that go to proffer explanation to the reason individuals and animals carry out certain behavior. In this regard, this essay looks utilizes some education theories in explaining my learning history. These theories include feminist perspective theory, social learning theory, Cognition theory and conflict theory. This essay also discusses my choice to return to adult education and why this decision is taken this time of my life. I also explained the societal and globalization have affected my learning history. My learning history and experience My learning experience took place in extremely two different environments. I did my primary, high school and first-degree education in Saudi Arabia, and now am doing my masters programme in Australia. The Saudi and Australian educational system is really miles apart in terms of administration and teaching. Saudi is not a native English speaking countries, and there is a limitation in regards to female education. As a core Muslim country, Saudi places premium education of the male child ahead of their female counterparts. It then really depends on the parents of the female child for how far a female child would go educational wise. The unbalance and inequality of female child to education in Saudi has to some extend affected how they compete and strive to excel educational wise with their male counterparts. Saudi Arabia a Middle East country is mainly an Islamic state where their learning and reading is mostly carried out in Arabic language and curriculum. There are many expatriate teachers in Saudi Arabia. Since English language is not widely spoken, there is little percentage of people in this Arabian country that can adequately communicate in English. According to Joy (1985) cited in McKay & McKay (1992 pg 10), “the biggest problem and challenge facing expatriates teachers who lecture language (such as English) in Saudi Arabia is the general lack of literacy among the people”. In a bid to transact adequate business in the international market, most Saudi Arabia companies encourage some of their staff both morally and financially to study English Language. “Since Saudi Arabia has a fairly high illiteracy rate, and since some students there are paid by their employers to acquire reading skills in English” (McKay & McKay 1992 pg 110). Expatriate language teachers most times have good jobs practicing their profession. There are large proportions of expatriate teachers in Saudi Arabia. “in Saudi Arabia one-third of their language teachers were Americans, one-third British, and one-third Saudi Arabians” (Joy 1985, pg 28, cited in McKay & McKay 1992 pg 110). In Saudi Arabia, males have more of literate individuals than their female counterpart. There are estimated 50 per cent of female that are literate in the country, while there are 72 per cent of male that are literate (UNDP 2003) Unlike in western societies, Saudi Arabian like other Middle East states has restrictions on the liberty women enjoy. Women rights and responsibilities in regard to their education is a thing of controversy as the gap between them and their male counterparts is widened. Some social upheavals that have plagued Middle East countries, and those in the Gulf States in the past 50 years, where the discovery of oil in these countries, have led to the change in lifestyles of Saudis, also affecting pattern of education in the country. According to Hamdan (2005), as a result of high revenue from oil, the Saudi government in the 1970s gave education opportunities to many boys and girls. However, many reforms didn’t bring about much change in the education of women in this country. At all levels of education the female education was under the Department Of Religious Guidance, not until 2002 when changes were made. But for their male counterparts the Ministry of Education were in charge (ibid). Women are been excluded from public life and this has affected the operation of teaching and education of women in this society, unlike the equal rights t education and other privileges that both men and women enjoy in society such as Australia. Gender issues are paramount in the society where I did my first degree and high school education. In our society back to my native home, women are made to be domestic housekeep, and don’t take active political or position that make them seen regularly in public forum. This passive feminist lifestyle back in Saudi Arabia is one that requires a change, and in contemporary times, vocal female and some male activists are trying to bring change. The girl-children now are educated as their male counterpart. Though, not widely spread; there are increasing numbers of female students now in higher educational institutions, doing their masters and PHD programmes. The theory that is applicable in this regards, in line with my experience is the feminist perspective theory. In this case, The Saudi society where I did my high school and first degree is structured in such a patriarchal pattern where inequality and imbalance to access to education is obviously recognized. The male counterparts have great dominance in this regards, especially for a female like me who wants to gains higher level of education at the masters level. As a female, I have decided I won’t be relegated to the background, especially in a male dominated society. Thus, after completing my first degree in Saudi Arabia, I decided that I won’t stop there but to advance to study my Masters in Australian university. That is what prompted my studying maters programme in TAFE. How society and my environment influences my educational history. Change is a continuous phenomenon that is bound to take place as far as there is time variation. Change is a continuous phenomenon in the human existence. Thus, in human social live change is inevitable. This is a major factor why human civilization and the advancement in technology are attained. The above can be linked to the changes brought about in TAFE education reform. The Australian government brought about a national training reform agenda which became vividly seen in the late 1980s. The Kangan vision was used in modeling community education where the Dawkins reform was still kept in touch. This led to the restructuring in TAFE and its funding became redefined and a tighter vocational preparation was put in place. Rules are prerequisite for a calm and sane society. No wonder ethics, values and organized rules are there to keep human activity to in modesty and beneficial; not a destruction to coexistence. According to Model, et al (1976, pg 2), human social change is an area of interest of learning, as it enables us to determine how replacement and advancement is executed. Thus, social change gives human processes and assigns the structure on which exchanges will thrive. Secondly, human socialization process enables the transferring of information and mode of learning from one age to another generation. Key Decisions About Whether To Continue Or Leave Formal Education And Training I will analyze how my formal immediate environment in Saudi and my parents influence have contributed to my continuation of my education. In this instance I will use the social cognitive theory to explain this. According to Bandura (1989) social cognitive theory is a study of human behavior, and how their environment enables them to learn and react in a certain way. Thus, human cognition enables him to react in a certain way and this is a good way to predict human behavior. The ‘reciprocal determinism’, a vital aspect of Bandura’s work on Social Cognitive Theory, has it that a person’s behavior is influenced both by and is influencing a person’s personal factors and the environment. (Bandura, 1969). The diagram below illustrate how personal factors such as cognitive skills or attitudes and behavior, and the environment impact on each other. SOURCE: Huitt, 2002. The above diagram shows that there is a change in the pattern of transition to adulthood. In my own case, I was actually influenced by my parents who usually give us the children the freedom to express our feelings and contribute to family issues. Both of my parents are educated with University degrees. Thus, despite they are in a society where the female child are not usually allowed to climb to the highest level of education, my parents where they to encourage me all through the way. Even to my level of Master study here in Australia. Thus, the early behaviour from my parents have helped in giving me the courage to proceed to study for my masters programme in TAFE. According to literature, the early life course in contemporary times which are to a great extent organized differently with different consequences for youth in the different societal setting. The narrowing of increase prevalence of the spread in the aspect of similar social culture over time and the regional setting in regards to urban and rural centers is different in countries with the subgroups in current times within an age –graded system (ibid). Why I came back to study as an adult and the factors that shaped that decision The universities in Australia is very well developed than what we have in Saudi Arabia, thus, with my quest for quality education I choose to study my master education in Australia. Secondly, I always wanted to improve on my English language. Thus, studying in Australia University would grant me that opportunity to really improve on the command of the language. Thus, in this juncture I introduce the conflict theory. In the Saudi society where I did my High school education and first degree education, the state resources in education are overtly patterned to favor the male counterpart to the females. Here, the female aspiring to continue to Master education are restricted by the societal belief that male should be educated more, while the females should live a passive life. Thus, in contemporary times, the numbers of female embracing western education at the tertiary education are on the increase. Thus, the level of competition between the males and females in the Saudi society where I come is on the rise. Thus, social inequality and discrimination against the female folks to education is been avoided, as in my case, where I choose to further my education in Australia at the Masters level. I love ladies who are highly educated. I see them on cable television how they are held in high regard, even sometimes among their male counterparts, especially when they are good in their job and know their onions. Hence, I have made up my mind to continue my education to my master level so that I won’t just be half baked graduate or half educated, but one that would command respect in the field of my learning. The way in which I see my future as a learner, and the factors that will shape that trajectory In this contemporary time, the world is more globalised. Thus, I foresee a vast opportunity for women that are well educated in my native society. In Saudi the numbers of highly educated women are still few compared to their male counterpart. Thus, with globalization and an age of internet and information technology, coupled with my education at TAFE I really stand to have an edge over other women in my Saudi society. The world is becoming more like a global village resulting from the way trade, communication, means of transportation is ever made easy. Business operations cut across transnational borders in contemporary times, more than before. Furthermore, there are increasing numbers of players in the international trade and deal transactions than ever before. The neo-liberalists views in international trade has always supported a globalize and open market order in which every countries is expected to open up its market and imbibe the culture of free trade, free economy entry and exit of labor and the opening of the state economy to the international market for active competition. “Globalization, can be briefly, defined as the intensification of economic, political, social, and cultural relations across borders” (Holm & Sorensen, 1995:4). Yeung (2002) sees globalization from a different angle. According to him, the quick increase of production, trade and other business investment transactions across the borders of different countries underscores the term globalization. Thus, globalization is a transformation of the world order to become accustomed to the changes of time and the pattern of the world order. Globalization has a trend that is based on spatial features that is based on social construction of space. In other words, globalization is all-overwhelming in its spread across transnational borders. It is correct to state that globalization as a phenomenon is not static in its features, changes in government operations, international foreign policies of countries, technological expertise, people’s culture, taste, and innovative technologies tend to bring a future change in the effect and assuming force of globalization. Globalization is projected to ensuring a sustained development in economy of different countries. Globalization tends to improve economic prosperity in the future through information technology. Information technology brings about better way of operating in every sector of a country. Thus, information technology will be geared and well spread through globalization to harness and improve communication, agriculture inputs, weather, and markets operations. Globalization tends to contribute also in future good health and improvement in human lives. Good information dissemination will go a long way to contribute in improvement in education and health services available to human being. Conclusion My educational experience and history have been influenced and shaped by my immediate environment and society in Saudi Arabia where I did my high education and first degree. The overtly inequality and imbalance of access to education at the higher tertiary institution has made my made a choice to study in a foreign land, that is in Australia. My current experience in my present choice of study would have aided me in projecting into the future where I want to successful in my future field of engagement. I foresee a future that is been bolstered by globalization, where female that are well read like me in my society would really command respect and be able to contribute to moving my society back home to be among the movers of our new age. Read More