A sketch note on constructivist teaching Lalit Kishore, Jaipur, India

Sketch note

Key points summarized from Wikipedia

Constructivist Teaching (CT) is based on the belief that learning

occurs when learners are actively involved in a process of making

sense or process of learning and knowledge construction.

Learners are viewed as the makers of meaning and knowledge

through higher order cognitive skills and critical thinking aiming at

development of motivated and independent learners.

Attributes of CT are : creation of democratic classroom environment;

emphasis on learning how to learn by motivating students to take

initiative for their own learning experiences and generating

knowledge out of them; learning material in the form of learner-

cantered activities; and teachers as facilitators of process of learning

to create autonomous learners.

Some important constructivist classrooms activities are:

experimentation; research projects; field trips in a real-world

context; visual context of the experience; class discussions and

seminars.

David Jonassen has identified three major roles for facilitators to

support students in constructivist learning environments: modelling;

coaching; and scaffolding

Cognitive modelling articulates the reasoning (reflection-in-action)

that teachers and learners should use while engaged in the learning

activities.

Coaching may be solicited by the learner on "how aspects” or the

learning processes through diagnosis, directions, feedback and

encouragement.

Scaffolding as a temporary systemic approach of supporting the

learner who requires focusing on the task, the creation of democratic

environment, the teacher as coach or guide for the learner to

become autonomous learner. At times, it requires performing the

task together with teacher as a guide.

Constructivist assessment strategies include: oral discussions; mind

mapping exercises; observance of hands-on activities and readiness-

testing on learning segments.

Problem solving, enquiry method, discovery method, cooperative

learning, guided learning and anchored learning are some of ways to

systematise CT.