Building Blocks and Learning

Authors

  • Charles Nelson

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.29173/cmplct8714

Abstract

Using John Holland’s model of complex adaptive systems, this paper explores how nonnative speakers of English learned to participate and to write in a first-year university rhetoric and composition course. Of particular interest is the emergence of students’ internal models for writing and other class tasks through the reproduction and cross-over of conceptual building blocks, showing that much of learning and creativity is due to recombining what is known rather than invention de novo. The findings in this paper suggest that educators should design curricula around core conceptual building blocks that can be combined in various ways across novel situations and that can lead to an ongoing emergence of new building blocks.

Author Biography

Charles Nelson

Charles P. Nelson is Assistant Professor of ESL Writing at Kean University, New Jersey, USA. He received his doctorate from The University of Texas at Austin, and his research interests include second language writing, portfolio assessment, complexity theory, and sociocultural and constructivist theories of learning.

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Published

2004-12-01

Issue

Section

Research Articles