comment on ch2

Mike Cole (mcole who-is-at weber.ucsd.edu)
Sat, 7 Oct 1995 05:20:07 -0700 (PDT)

Re: Palincsar, Brown, & Campione on reciprocal teaching

Hi Bill;

A couple of comments on Ch2.

1) Same query as to Francoise. You use the terms scaffolding and
zoped to describe reciprocal teaching, implying that some sort of
cultural-historical psychologuical theory is important in the work.
What is the link?

2) The question of institutionalization neatly links this work to
the earlier discussion on school reform. I know that Brown and Campione
have been involved for the last several years using this approach to
structure instruction in an entire elementary school, but are having a
LOT of difficulty institutionalizing it. Their experience ought to
have a good deal to say about the instittuional mediation of cognition
and instruction. Some of that experience is written up, but getting
it summarized for xmca seems more of a chore than is likely to get
done spontaneously.

And if we cannot instititionalize successful new practices? then what's
the point?
mike