In Pursuit of Excellence
FACULTY OF EDUCATION
BACHELOR OF EDUCATION SP & FET DEGREE
ASSIGNMENT 1
MODULE : EDUCATION II
MODULE CODE : EDN26WO
DUE DATE : 16 MAY 2025
TOPIC: Educational and Theoretical Knowledge for
Student Success in Higher Education
NAME & SURNAME STUDENT NO
Athule Mbalula 221146687
Asekho Dofi 240650085
Nkosehaya Nkebe 240614720
Ayema Meva 240325753
Live Ngqame 219240302
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Introduction
Higher education comes after secondary schooling and is a
defining period of one's life. It requires a student to have an
array of both practical and theoretical skills as well as proper
intellectual armamentarium to navigate successfully within
society. More often than not, one does not only need proper
knowledge of the field; they need appropriate theories and
practices which promote critical thinking, self-reliance, and
flexibility. This essay seeks to explore current academic
literature and offer dissection toward the belief and educational
knowledge that seeks to empower students in higher
education.
1. Independent Thought and the Constructivist Theory
of Learning
Unlike others, learning is something that a person knows
actively, through his/her experiences. Hence, constructivism is
now one of the leading theories of modern education, as
posited by Schunk 2020. Unlike most forms of education, where
learners are seen as passive receivers of information, in higher
education constructivism shifts the paradigm to learners being
heroes of their own learning journeys. Autonomy and mental
agility are taught through problem-based learning,
brainstorming sessions, and team projects. Take, for example,
the increasing popularity of flipped classrooms: more and more
educators use them as a means to promote meaningful
interaction with the material, which increases retention and its
subsequent application (Murphy et al., 2021).
2. Self-Regulated Learning and Metacognition
Understanding how a person learns, or how they experience
their learning processes, is crucial for the success of their
academia journey. This is termed as metacognition.
Metacognitive strategies are planning, monitoring, and
evaluating one’s own learning which leads to self-regulation
(Zimmerman & Moylan, 2019). These skills, due to
accompanying positive results in academic achievements and
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learning mobility, have been valued greatly by institutions of
higher learning which strive to develop them. If students have
the ability to think about their understanding, then they may be
able to cope with challenging academic tasks such as writing
research papers or doing independent projects.
3. Information management and digital literacy
In this ever globalizing digital world, being able to critically
evaluate information has become a core skill. It's not enough
for students to simply collect information; they must be capable
of determining its trustworthiness and relevance. Van Laar et
al. (2020) suggests that in this learning environment, digital
literacy as the ability to evaluate information, interact, and
produce content is as important as its primary form information
is not only being shifted into computerized format and online
spaces. In order to allow students to engage with scholarly
resources, attend class in blended learning settings, and design
technology integrated assignments, universities are now
embedding digital competencies into teaching.
4. Social Responsibility and Critical Pedagogy
In the context of education that is based on critical pedagogy
freirean principles continue to impact postsecondary education
by encouraging students to defy social norms and unjust
standards. This pedagogy, with all its limitations, places
significant value on ethical responsibilities. students of
sociology, gender studies, and even environmental studies
grapple with concepts of power, privilege, and equity in a form-
conscious education that integrates social problems. (Giroux,
2020).
5. Interdisciplinary Problem Solving and Knowledge
Interdisciplinary education is essential since current challenges
are seldom limited to a single field. Nowadays, higher
education emphasizes the integration of knowledge across
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disciplines, allowing students to approach difficult issues from
multiple perspectives. For example, the issues surrounding
climate change include economic, political, and scientific
aspects. Repko & Szostak (2021) argue that interdisciplinary
education promotes creativity and critical thinking, giving
students a wide range of problem-solving skills.
Conclusion
Mastering course material is not the only component of higher
education's theoretical and practical instruction. Theories like
digital literacy, critical pedagogy, interdisciplinary, self-
regulated learning, and constructivism are crucial in developing
graduates who are socially conscious, reflective, and
competent. Students are better equipped to overcome
academic obstacles and make significant contributions to the
global community by internalizing these frameworks.
References
Giroux, H. A. (2020). On Critical Pedagogy. Bloomsbury
Publishing.
Murphy, M. P. A., Fox, A., & Freeman, J. (2021). Active
learning and student engagement in higher education.
Teaching in Higher Education, 26(4), 519–533.
https://doi.org/10.1080/13562517.2020.1739643
Repko, A. F., & Szostak, R. (2021). Interdisciplinary
Research: Process and Theory (4th ed.). SAGE
Publications.
Schunk, D. H. (2020). Learning Theories: An Educational
Perspective (8th ed.). Pearson.
Van Laar, E., van Deursen, A. J. A. M., van Dijk, J. A. G. M.,
& de Haan, J. (2020). Determinants of 21st-century digital
skills: A large-scale survey among working professionals.
Computers in Human Behavior, 100, 93–104.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2019.06.017
Zimmerman, B. J., & Moylan, A. R. (2019). Self-regulation:
Where metacognition and motivation intersect. In The
Cambridge Handbook of Motivation and Learning (pp. 311–
332). Cambridge University Press.
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