Cognitive Development Approach and Value Education - Essay Example

Value Education Name Institution Value Education The article deals with the poor disposal of plastic containers, which has seen the plastic bottles finding their way into the Cooks River whenever there is a downpour. This has led to the pollution of the river and has been regarded as one of most polluted rivers in Australia. The poor disposal of plastic bottles greatly affects the river's ecosystem. This means that the river becomes incapable of supporting the lives that depend on it due to the high number of plastic bottles. This article clearly outlines the importance of having a proper disposal system for plastic bottles so as to avoid a situation where they find their way into streams such Cooks River (Valley times 2013) In addition to these, the article is very useful when trying to instil values in school going children. Values have been described as principles upon which the behavior and actions of individuals are based on. In other words, values are the elements of self-consciousness that determine how an individual behaves or acts when presented with a challenge (Reynolds 2012). Therefore, in relation to the article values are of great significance if the eradication of plastic bottles in the Cooks River is concerned. This is because eradication of pollution by plastic bottles can benefit so much if individuals are instilled with values. These values ensure that individuals reflect on the various disadvantages that are associated with poor disposal of plastic bottles in rivers. This, in turn, ensures that such individuals refrain from disposing plastic bottles but rather disposing the plastic bottles in a manner that does not pollute the environment. Based on the nature of the article, it is well suited for students in year four simply because the article encompasses the notion of how the earth’s environment is capable of sustaining life. The reason for this is that individuals, animals and plants alike around Cooks River depend on its waters to sustain the activities of the day to day lives. With the help of the article, students are able to understand why it is quite important to sustain the environment around them and also the various ways they can engage in ensuring that the environment is sustained. However, in ensuring that values are instilled in the students various enquiry questions will be posed to them. These questions seek specific objectives of which the students must have an understanding. One such question is how the environment support human lives and other living things? Additionally, the students will be required to address the question of how differing views of individuals affect the sustainability of the environment? Finally, the students will be required to address the question of what ways they could make use of the environment and at the same time be able to sustain the environment for future use? Once students are able to address these questions it then becomes easy to instill values into their learning so as to ensure the protection and sustainability of the environment around them (ACARA 2013) Year 4 deals with the environment and how the environment is capable to sustain the lives that depend on it. In relation to this, the chosen article refer to how Cooks River is affected by pollution as a result of plastics that find their way into the river after a downpour. Therefore, this bring in question as to whether the river is capable of sustaining the lives of those who depend on it. Additionally, it also raises the question as to how the river can be transformed back to its glory, which in this case would be cleaning the river and establishing ways of preventing pollution. The article talks of a disposal system which would ensure that plastic bottles are disposed of properly and effectively. This, in turn, leads to the protection of the river and reduction of pollution on the river as a result of plastic bottles. Additionally, the article talks of efforts by the local council to try and clean the river, which is also addressed in year 4 among the key query questions (ACARA 2013). Value education has over the years been given priority to the extent that it has been incorporated in the Australian curriculum. This is based on the numerous requests by renowned scholars to have value education introduced in the school curriculum. The reasoning was that with the introduction of value education in schools students would leave learning institutions would be able to interact with the society properly. Additionally, such students will be able to maintain and confine themselves to cultural values accepted in the society. However, instilling values in the lives of the students could prove difficult and sometimes impossible (Reynolds 2012). However, to ensure and make it easy to instill values in students, various approaches have been developed. These approaches relate to the students, thereby making it easier to instill values in them by encompassing an approach that best suits them. In line with the article and the year group in question the most preferred approach would be the cognitive developmental approach. This approach unlike the prescriptive approach instills values in a student by way of moral teachings. Moral teachings touch on the conscience of the students in whatever activity they engage in. Therefore, this means that students are guided upon by what they deem to be morally accepted in the society around them (Gilbert 2011). Poor disposal of plastic bottles leads to pollution of the Crooks River, thus affecting its survival and ability to sustain the lives that depend on it. Therefore, by adopting this approach students are capable of reasoning for themselves and distinguish whether the action they are undertaking is right or wrong. This is based on the fact disposal of plastic bottles is left to the individual, and it is up to the individual to decide how to dispose it. However, with the use of cognitive development approach a student might find it difficult to dispose of plastic bottles aimlessly. This is because they will be guided upon by the conscience as to why it is improper to dispose of plastic bottles poorly. This, in turn, would help solve problems of polluting the environment as is witnessed with Crooks River. Additionally, this approach allows students to have multiple perspectives in regards to their actions, which, in turn, allows them to reach an amicable solution. The solution reached is in most times beneficial to the society and the environment around them. This is quite necessary when one takes into account the fast changing world, whereby incidents such as pollution are given immense priority (Reynolds 2012) The cognitive development approach can prove difficult to enforce compared to the perspective approach when trying to instill values in students. However, this should not act as a deterrence since the approach can be tackled and still be instilled in students by the help of teaching techniques adopted. One of the major technique that could be adopted is observation. Observation can be a very useful technique in addressing this approach and assisting in instilling values. This is because observation gives feeds firsthand information to intended students. This can be achieved by use of photographs of the local area that is under investigation. The images of the situation at hand have an almost immediate impact on the students as they come into terms with the level of pollution the river faces. This creates a caring attitude which binds the students to reason out their actions in relation to those around them. Therefore, with the help of observation values can be instilled in students and have a great impact on their lives. The technique that could be deployed to enhance cognitive development approach is the use of a controversial issue (Gilbert 2004). Controversial issues usually bring out the emotions of the individuals in relation to the subject matter being discussed. However, it should be noted that not all controversial issues have this ability, but generally most controversial issues should bring out the true nature of an individual. The emotions should then be connected to the desired value or values that one intends to instill in the students. This is because at this stage, it is easier to indicate why a particular subject is of interest. Additionally, it is of great significance to ensure the participation of every student in the class, thus ensuring no student is left out. This can be achieved by allocating students with tasks that are centered on values. As a result of this, the students are capable of grasping the main value that is intended to be instilled in them (Reynolds 2012). Kivunja et al (2011) is of the view that controversial issues assist student achieve an informed decision when compared to straight forward issues. This is because controversial issues propel students to think critically and distinguish between good and bad. Therefore, once students capable of distinguishing between the two it becomes easier for them to make a decision. The decision normally arrived at is bases on morals, meaning that the student has applied the vales taught. References Australian Curriculum and Assessment Reporting Authority (2013) Geography F-10, ACARA. Gilbert, R. (2011). Working with values and controversial issues. In R. Gilbert & B. Hoepper (Eds) Teaching society and environment. South Melbourne, Victoria: Cengage Learning. Gilbert, R. (2004). Elements of Values Education, The Social Educator, 22, 3 Kivunja, C., Reitano, P. & Porter, K. (2011). Promoting global citizenship: Using controversial issues in social science lessons, The Social Educator, 29, 1, 5‐15 Reynolds, R. (2012). Teaching history, geography & SOSE in the primary school, 2nd ed. Melbourne, Australia: Oxford University Press. Valley Times (2013, April 18). Choking to Death. Valley Times, p. 1. Read More