Learning in diverse environments

This is a study that was done with a goal of developing a set of principles from which future researchers, education practitioners and policy makers would use to understand the concept of learning for students from diverse cultural groups. This would help to narrow the learning gap that exists between mainstream and marginalized students (Banks et al, 2007).

The introduction highlights globalization as the main root of cultural diversity in the United States whereby students find themselves in foreign schools as a result of migration. The study first described the differences between formal and informal learning. LIFE Center tries to define the power of human learning a one grows from childhood to adulthood. Since the world is getting mixed up with cultures, the researchers have considered the holistic learning that is life-long, life-wide and life-deep. This is a learning that shapes the character and the capability of a student so that it remains compatible to the current advancement in technology and diversification (Banks et al, 2007).

A holistic learning is sometimes affected by social economic and historical practices and states. They varying of these factors create the learning gap that should not be there. Some of the social-economic factors include poverty, gender inequality and inadequate schooling facilities among others. For the gap to be narrowed, the researchers concluded that all learners need multiple sources of support so that personal and intellectual development is achieved (Banks et al, 2007).

In addition to the schooling support, additional academic resources should be made available to all children of their optimum development. The team concluded the study by recommending that all stakeholders in the education system should adopt a broad vision while formulating policies and various curricular decisions (Banks et al, 2007).

The take away message from this article is that advocating for equal learning opportunities would narrow the help the needy children to acquire education and become fruitful to the globalizing world.  However, how long will it take for this goal to be achieved? In addition, what strategy does this panel have to the children who are not good academic wise?

 

 

References

Banks J.A., Au K.H., Ball A.F., Bell P., Gordo E.W., Gutierrez K.D., Heath S.B., Lee C.D., Lee Y., Mahiri J., Nasir N.S., Valdes G., Zhou M., (2007). Learning in and out of School in Diverse Environments: Lefe-Long, Life-Wide, Life-Deep. The LIFE Center