What is Constructivism in Education?
Adam Curtis
Constructivism Defined
Progressive Philosophy of how people learn.
We essentially build our knowledge by experiencing things, and reflecting on those experiences.
http://www.thirteen.org/edonline/concept2class/constructivism/index.html
An online workshop covering the basics of constructivism to implementation in the classroom
“The students learn HOW TO LEARN.” This style of teaching focuses more on the path to
discovering the information than the actual information, making it important for the teacher to ask the right questions instead of simply presenting the information to be memorized.
Constructivism as a Paradigm for Teaching and Learning
In the Classroom
Rather than telling the students the information, the teacher acts as a guide, allowing the students to discover the information.
Once the information is found, the teacher leads a reflection on the process of the discussion or activity.
Example: In math class, the teacher guides
the students to ask the right questions, sometimes even taking the incorrect route to illustrate what may not work and why. Once the right path is found and the correct information obtained, the teacher will reflect on the thought process involved.
Students should then be able to apply this thought process to other related problems.
http://ac-journal.org/journal/vol5/iss3/special/jones.pdf Constructivism has already taken shape in many
classrooms. More schools are focusing on peer-to-peer collaboration and classroom discussions, as opposed to lecture based classes. The language, spoken and written, has also changed with an emphasis on learning and communicating with and among the students. The teacher does more than simply talk, he or she listens to the different perspectives and allows these different perspectives to be shared amongst the class with the discussions and collaborations.
The Impact of Constructionism on Education: Language, Discourse, and
Meaning
Dalton School, New York (Private)
Greater Brunswick Charter School, New Jersey
Francis W. Parker School, Chicago (Private)
Constructivist Schools
Pros and Cons
Pros Develops skills in
collaboration. Builds problem solving
skills. Sparks student’s curiosity. Allows for a sharing of
different perspectives.
Cons Demotes individualized
thinking. Benefits only kids in
privileged schools with good teachers.
What do you think? Is it more beneficial to move towards a
constructivist approach in the classroom, or stick to the current ideologies?
Discussion
(2004). Constructivism as a Paradigm for Teaching and Learning. Retrieved from http://www.thirteen.org/edonline/concept2class/constructivism/index.htmlBrader-Araje, L. & Jones, M. G. (2002). The Impact of Constructivism on Education: Language, Discourse, and Meaning. American Communication Journal, 5 (3). Retrieved from http://acjournal.org/journal/vol5/iss3/special/
jones.pdf
References