Reflection by Timothy Knapp
Researching and learning to understand Bronfenbrenner’s Bioecological Model has made me aware of its important implications on human development. Each system plays a profound role in how a child’s environment affects growth and development; in essence shaping who we are. The identified environmental systems powerfully shape children’s development and are unique to each individual. When learning what and how the environment impacts a child’s development, the bioecological model provides a great deal of information that could help anyone understand and gain a greater depth of knowledge of how you can contribute to the life of a child. It appears that the saying “It takes a village to raise a child” stands true within the framework of each system as a whole. Inevitably, a child’s development could be hindered without all environmental systems collectively working in such a way that provides a nurturing and caring environment.
Reflection by Elizabeth Mullins
Bronfenbrenner's bioecological model is very interesting. I think it is a great tool to use when you are studying how children and even adults come from all backgrounds, and therefore have differing views. Hence why if you ask two people about an event that they attended, they will give you differing stories. Because of the way they have been raised and the things they have went through in their lifetime, they have experienced and will experience different things. The division of the model also helps to divide up the way things should be looked at. Teachers, parents, young adults, employers...they should all take into consideration this model. If they compare it to research, they may find that, "If I teach a child this way, he may learn better" or "I was raised in this kind of home, so I need to work on raising him in a different way" or "This is how I've grown up. Is this why I'm this way?" or "She has experienced a lot in her life and grown up this way...what should I expect from her as an employee?" It really is a great way to divide up and see how life around us affects us and makes us different from other people.
This model shows how everything really affects us, but also shows us how the smallest parts, such as family members rather than overarching beliefs, affect us deeply. 'You' is at the center and everything seems to swirl around 'you', shaping and molding all of us until we are the person we are today. It really helps to show the “butterfly affect”. That every person, place, and thing has actually shaped us. Without one thing in our past, our lives would be different. It may not have been a big change, but it would be a difference.
Reflection by Paige Newman
Bronfenbrenner’s model shows that every minute detail of a person’s life affects who they are and who they grow up to be. Every system, every piece, whether big or small plays a role in child development. I think that this is a great model to use for teachers. I believe that the only way you can help a child to learn to their best ability is by knowing who they are. This model is a checklist for doing just that. It helps you to think about and learn each individual aspect of a child’s life in order to learn their individual personality. I think this model also emphasizes how important conferences with both parents and students are. As a teacher it is important to know what is going on at home and how that is affecting the student’s performance at school. I also think this model shows the importance of your classroom set up and the interactions between your students. Overall, I think this model is a great background for all teachers.
Reflection by Amy Malmrose
I used the above examples because they are personal experiences. To be honest, before this class I was not familiar with Bronfenbrenner’s theory. Studying this theory, I can see how all the systems are intertwined and how it can directly and indirectly impact a child. This past year, my husband (my children’s stepdad) was deployed in Afghanistan. This was his fourth deployment and my first because we have only been married a couple of years. I was worried when he left, but had no idea what deployment was all about. I struggled in the beginning mainly just adjusting to the fact that he was gone. My children struggled with missing him too. As the weeks went on, we started to adjust. We made friends with other military families. We actually became like on big extended family. We helped each other with each other’s children and would have frequent get togethers. We all really needed each other, especially the children, because they could relate to each other. Several months into the deployment, some accidents happened that turned out to be very tragic. Although they didn’t affect us directly, our small circle and our military community were devastated. I had to explain to my seven year old what had happened. My husband finally returned home recently. When my daughter saw him for the first time. She lost total control of her emotions. I could see the relief in her that her stepdad was finally home.
I used the above examples because they are personal experiences. To be honest, before this class I was not familiar with Bronfenbrenner’s theory. Studying this theory, I can see how all the systems are intertwined and how it can directly and indirectly impact a child. This past year, my husband (my children’s stepdad) was deployed in Afghanistan. This was his fourth deployment and my first because we have only been married a couple of years. I was worried when he left, but had no idea what deployment was all about. I struggled in the beginning mainly just adjusting to the fact that he was gone. My children struggled with missing him too. As the weeks went on, we started to adjust. We made friends with other military families. We actually became like on big extended family. We helped each other with each other’s children and would have frequent get togethers. We all really needed each other, especially the children, because they could relate to each other. Several months into the deployment, some accidents happened that turned out to be very tragic. Although they didn’t affect us directly, our small circle and our military community were devastated. I had to explain to my seven year old what had happened. My husband finally returned home recently. When my daughter saw him for the first time. She lost total control of her emotions. I could see the relief in her that her stepdad was finally home.
Reflection by Emily Losert
I think it’s interesting to think about how all areas of our lives intertwine to make us who we are. We look at our microsystem environment and we find what shaped our beliefs growing up, but once we combine all of the systems we can see what truly makes us who we are. Studying Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological theory shows us how influential we are in our students lives. Even when we aren’t in direct contact with the child, how we interact with characters in their other systems effects them in the end.
I think it’s interesting to think about how all areas of our lives intertwine to make us who we are. We look at our microsystem environment and we find what shaped our beliefs growing up, but once we combine all of the systems we can see what truly makes us who we are. Studying Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological theory shows us how influential we are in our students lives. Even when we aren’t in direct contact with the child, how we interact with characters in their other systems effects them in the end.