CONSTRUCTIVISM

By: Erika Queen

☆What is Constructivism?☆Who came up with this?☆How can it be applied?☆What’s your opinion of Constr

uctivism?☆Works Cited

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Student-focused learning theory As learners, we construct meaning and

knowledge individually from experiences Teachers are used as guides to encourage

the students to pursue meaning and knowledge

There is no knowledge independent of meaning

What is Constructivism?

☆“I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.” –Confucius

☆This quote sums up what Constructivism is all about.

Important to:☆Focus on the learner and their thought processes☆Engage the students to encourage exploration and discovery

What is Constructivism?

☆ Believed children were active learners☆ Construct knowledge as they move through life’s

schema (stages)☆ Cognitive Learning Theory (4 stages)

☆ Sensorimotor ☆ learn through senses/motor actions

☆ Preoperational☆ Use symbols/images and play pretend

☆ Concrete Operational☆ Think logically and understand other points of view

☆ Formal Operational☆ Hypothesize, abstract thinking and moral

development☆ Adaption (cognitive development)

☆ Assimilation: Addition of new information☆ Accommodation: Revision of old information due to

new discovery

Jean Piaget

☆American psychologist and educator☆Participatory learners☆ Integrated curriculum

☆ various activities to encourage learning

☆Study of cognition☆ Individuals progress through different

intellectual stages☆ Mental models are created that provide meaning

☆Socratic Method☆Solving problems through questioning and

answering techniques

☆Spiral Curriculum☆ Building upon what is already learned

Jerome Bruner

☆ Russian educational psychologist☆ Social Cognition

☆ Learning significantly influenced by social environment and culture

☆ Positive or negative effects☆ Zone of proximal development

☆ Difference between a child’s problem solving ability and their potential when working with someone more advanced (ex. Teacher)

☆ Promotes collaborative learning

☆ Scaffolding☆ Discovering a child’s level of development and

building their learning experiences from that point☆ Altering schemata (mental framework)

☆ Anchored Instruction☆ Learned concepts become a basis for other

information to connect to and build upon

Lev Vygotsky

☆ Educational psychologist, political activist and philosopher☆ Father of Education☆ University Elementary School

☆ School is a community and an extension of society

☆ Student-directed learning with teachers as guides for resources

☆ Progressive Education☆ Educating the whole child (physically,

mentally and socially)

☆ Pragmatist☆Truth of a theory could only be determined by

whether it worked or not

John Dewey

Teacher’s Role☆Act as a guide to students☆Encourage students to ask

questions and find answers☆Provide helpful resources, but not answers☆Foster an environment that

encourages exploration and experimentation

Constructivism in the Classroom

☆Student’s Role☆Pursue knowledge through

questioning and analytical thinking

☆Build on what is already known☆Search for meaning, instead of

memorizing facts☆Collaborate with other students

to reach your full potential☆Explore and experiment, don’t

accept fact for truth

How can it be applied?

☆As a teacher Constructivism is an excellent way to help your students succeed, not only in your class, but in the future as well.

☆Teaches them analytical skills, encourages exploration and fosters experiments and quests for more knowledge.

Constructivism in MY Classroom

☆Student-centered learning is a great way to cater to each child.

☆It requires you to step outside the box and come up with innovative ways to introduce curriculum.

☆Not to mention that a child feels far more accomplished when they have achieved on their own

Constructivism in MY Classroom

☆ http://www.exploratorium.edu/IFI/resources/constructivistlearning.html

☆ http://www.notablebiographies.com/Pe-Pu/Piaget-Jean.html#betc

☆ http://ece205.wikispaces.com/Jerome+Bruner☆ http://www.goodtherapy.org/famous-psychologists/lev-

vygotsky.html☆ http://www.iep.utm.edu/dewey/☆ http://www.sparkenthusiasm.com/teacher_treasures.h

tml☆ http://www.fil.ion.ucl.ac.uk/essay2009/text/

whocanenterTXT.html

Works Cited