The Influence Of Hands On Learning

One of the best things about being a father is taking on tasks with your children. Imagine a son and a father are wanting to start a remodel project and the son doesn’t know how to run some of the tools. Many schools across the nation are eliminating technical and vocational programs such as metal shop, wood shop, home economics or computer programing. This makes it really difficult for some who may find the hands on learning that shop classes offer very helpful. Beliefs have changed; everyone wants everything to be safe. Even if they have to accept issues that result from it. Vocational and technical classes are vital because they help children who have learning disabilities, teach children how to adapt to challenges and shows there are many …show more content…
James Paul Gee wrote an article “What Video Games have to teach us”. This article shows that just because something is different it does not mean it’s any less valuable. Hands on learning may not be a conventional method of learning, but it doesn’t mean it is any less important. Children who have learning disabilities need the hands on learning that vocational classes offer, because they need to be able to move and manipulate parts to fully understand how something works. “Along with the designer, the player’s actions co-create the game world” (Gee 4). Vocational classes, much like videos games draw in and engages the children on a much deeper level. Vocational classes teach the children to connect to their work because their choices directly affect the outcome of the project. Information given to us in books can often be out of context and a part of their actual use. Hands on learning uses “just in time information” (Gee 3) which helps the kids comprehend the information cause they are applying it right as they acquire …show more content…
Gee shows us that video games incorporate “a cycle of expertise” (5). This is a way that the player needs to master a certain set of skills then they are thrown a new challenge, which test their mastery of these skills. This shows the children how to adapt to new challenges that are set in place. This form of learning can also be found in vocational classes such as woods. Imagine a child is working on their woods project and they accidentally chip a chunk off the corner of their wood. They could leave it or put skills that they have been practicing to the test and try and fix it. This is a vital way children learn and practice because it gives them a chance to see how much they truly know about woodworking. “The cycle of expertise” (Gee 5) also plays a big role in children’s willingness to learn, “Motivation is the most important factor that drives learning. When motivation dies, learning dies and playing stops” (Gee 5). When children encounter a problem they use their skills they have learned to solve that particular problem. If schools eliminate the chance that children have to use their skills the their motivation will likely drop and they will be less willing to learn. Vocational classes give children the chance to put their knowledge to the test so they can adapt and overcome