CONSTRUCTIVISM A Model for Designing Constructivist Learning Environments

CONSTRUCTIVISMCONSTRUCTIVISM

A Model for Designing Constructivist Learning Environments

A. AssumptionsA. Assumptions± Knowledge is individually constructed and

socially co-constructed by learners based on their interactions in the world.

± the meaning that learners construct depends on their needs, beliefs, and prior knowledge

B. Learning GoalsB. Learning Goals

¤ interpret and solve the problems

¤ complete the projects

¤ answer the questions

¤ resolve the issues

C. Essential ComponentsC. Essential Components

a Question/Case/Problem/Project

b Related Cases

c Information Resources

d Cognitive Tools

e Conversation and Collaboration Tools

f Social-contextual Support

C.a The ProblemC.a The Problem

¶ The problem drives the learning.

* problem context

* problem representation

* problem manipulation space

C.b Related CasesC.b Related Cases

¶ assist learners in understanding the issues implicit in the problem representation

# scaffolding memory

# representing complexity

C.c Information ResourcesC.c Information Resources

* support learners to construct the mental models and formulate hypotheses

~ text documents

~ graphics

~ video

C.d Cognitive ToolsC.d Cognitive Tools

¶ intellectual devices to visualize, organize, automate or supplant information processing

< modeling tools

< dynamic tools

< generic tools

C.e Conversation and Collaboration ToolsC.e Conversation and Collaboration Tools¶ access to shared information and shared know

ledge building tools to help learners to collaboratively construct socially shared knowledge

¶ + Computer-Supported Intentional Learning

Environment

+ Communities of Learners

C.f Social-contextual SupportC.f Social-contextual Support

¶ train teachers and students to accommodate contextual factors

^ CoVis Project

D. Instructional SupportsD. Instructional Supports

Coaching Modeling Scaffolding

D.1 ModelingD.1 Modeling

§ provide learners with an example of the desired performance

§ “How Do I Do This?”

~ Behavioral Modeling

~ Cognitive Modeling

D.2 CoachingD.2 Coaching

§ motivate learners, analyze their performance, provide feedback, provoke reflection and articulation of what was learned

§ “How Am I Doing?”

D.3 ScaffoldingD.3 Scaffolding

§ provide temporary frameworks to support learning and student performance beyond their capacities

§ “Help Me Do This?”

E. DiscussionsE. Discussions

? Philosophical Assumptions

? Impediments to Learning

? Evaluations