Ernesto Cardenas, PhD

For me, education serves the purpose of students recognizing and fully developing their human potential. In doing so, education empowers students to analyze the reality around them and transform it when necessary.

 

As a teacher, I provide some initial conceptual structure as a starting point for students to begin the process of knowledge construction based on their own experiences and questions. I see previous knowledge and experiences as the basis for new learning. Furthermore, I believe that individuals construct knowledge within their cultural and social frameworks. In other words, knowledge cannot be transported, and, on the contrary, the process of knowledge construction needs the learner's active role. Thus, I promote critical thinking through debate and discussion and give voice to students within classes to express themselves and question existing concepts and others' ideas.

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​I present significant findings of my research projects when they are pertinent to the class. I believe connecting teaching and research in an action-reflection activity within the knowledge construction process is essential.

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