CONSTRUCTIVISMCONSTRUCTIVISM

What is Constructivism?What is Constructivism?

“ “ Constructivism is an approach to Constructivism is an approach to teaching based on research about teaching based on research about how people learned. Many how people learned. Many researchers say that each individual researchers say that each individual constructs knowledge rather constructs knowledge rather receiving it from others.”receiving it from others.”

( ( McBrien & Brandt, 1997)McBrien & Brandt, 1997)

“ “ They are constructing their own They are constructing their own knowledge by testing ideas and knowledge by testing ideas and approaches based on their prior approaches based on their prior knowledge and experience, applying knowledge and experience, applying these to a new situation and these to a new situation and integrating the new knowledge integrating the new knowledge gained with pre-existing intellectual gained with pre-existing intellectual constructs.” (constructs.” (Briner, M., 1999Briner, M., 1999))

What is constructivism?What is constructivism? A learning theory based on observation and A learning theory based on observation and scientific studyscientific study Students construct their own understanding Students construct their own understanding knowledge of the worldknowledge of the world Reconciliation of new and previous ideas and Reconciliation of new and previous ideas and experiences experiences In doing soIn doing so i. the students’ belief may have to be changed i. the students’ belief may have to be changed ii. new information may be discarded as ii. new information may be discarded as irrelevantirrelevant

Constructivism proposes that Constructivism proposes that students learn as a result of their students learn as a result of their personal generation of meaning from personal generation of meaning from experiencesexperiences

Constructivist learners are active Constructivist learners are active creators of their own knowledge. creators of their own knowledge. How?How?

They must ask questions, explore They must ask questions, explore ideas and assess what they knowideas and assess what they know

3 principles of theory of 3 principles of theory of constructivism constructivism

Each person constructs beliefs about what Each person constructs beliefs about what is realis real

What a person already belief or brings to What a person already belief or brings to new situations changes the information new situations changes the information that the person’s senses deliverthat the person’s senses deliver

People create a reality based on their People create a reality based on their previous beliefs, their own abilities to previous beliefs, their own abilities to reason and their desire to reconcile what reason and their desire to reconcile what they believe and what they actually they believe and what they actually observeobserve

In the classroom.. In the classroom.. Encourage students to use active techniques Encourage students to use active techniques

(experiments, problem solving) to create more (experiments, problem solving) to create more knowledge, to reflect on their understanding knowledge, to reflect on their understanding

Understand the students’ preexisting conceptionsUnderstand the students’ preexisting conceptions Guide the activity to address and build on the Guide the activity to address and build on the

conceptionsconceptions Talk about what they are doing and how their Talk about what they are doing and how their

understanding is changingunderstanding is changing Help them generate connections between what is Help them generate connections between what is

to be learned and what they already know or to be learned and what they already know or believebelieve

Encourage students to constantly assess how the Encourage students to constantly assess how the activity is helping them gain understandingactivity is helping them gain understanding

Traditional class vsTraditional class vs Contructivist class Contructivist class

TRADITIONAL CLASSTRADITIONAL CLASS Dissemination of Dissemination of

information, students are information, students are recipients of knowledgerecipients of knowledge

Teacher’s role is directive, Teacher’s role is directive, rooted in authorityrooted in authority

Knowledge is seen as inertKnowledge is seen as inert

Students work primarily Students work primarily alonealone

Assessment is through Assessment is through testing correct answerstesting correct answers

CONSTRUCTIVIST CLASSCONSTRUCTIVIST CLASS Discussion with students, Discussion with students,

construction of own construction of own knowledgeknowledge

Teacher’s role is interactive, Teacher’s role is interactive, rooted in negotiationrooted in negotiation

Knowledge is seen as Knowledge is seen as dynamic, ever changing with dynamic, ever changing with experiencesexperiences

Student work primarily in Student work primarily in groups groups

Assessment includes Assessment includes students’ work, observation students’ work, observation and view as well as tests. and view as well as tests. Process is as important as Process is as important as productproduct

TECHNIQUES TO IDENTIFY TECHNIQUES TO IDENTIFY ALTERNATIVE FRAMEWORKSALTERNATIVE FRAMEWORKS

INTERVIEWINTERVIEW QUESTIONNAIRESQUESTIONNAIRES PREDICTIONPREDICTION OBSERVATIONOBSERVATION EXPLAINATIONEXPLAINATION