Social Constructivism

Nadia TalaatLinda Watson

Bita Sarabi-Khosravi

• emphasizes the critical importance of culture and the importance of the social context needed for cognitive development.

• states that adults such as parents and teachers are conduits for the tools of the culture, including language.

• includes electronic forms of information access.

Vygotsky's brand of constructivism known as social constructivism:

A constructivist teacher:

• guides students while encouraging collaboration.

• supports the learner by providing advice for real-life experiences.

• provides activities that connect to the student.

• facilitates learning by asking rather than telling.

• guides students as they approach problems

Teacher as FacilitatorTeacher as Facilitator

Reciprocal Questioning - working together to ask and answer questions

Jigsaw Classroom Activities - Student becomes the expert on one part

Structured Controversies - students working together on a common goal

Strategies for Social Constructivism Strategies for Social Constructivism Classroom ImplementationClassroom Implementation

Internet provides interactivity by offering....

• Collaborative writing - Google Docs, Voicethread

• Real Audience for feedback

• Simulations will connect experience

• Therefore ASSESSMENT is continuous and learning is directly linked to this feedback

• COLLABORATIVE ELABORATION - constructing and understanding together that would not be possible alone

Technology in Social Constructivist Classroom

• Active

• Social

• Collaborative

• Relevant and Meaningful

• Knowledge is gained from experience

What does Social Learning look like?What does Social Learning look like?

• Site:• http://viking.coe.uh.edu/~ichen/ebook/et-it/social.htm• • http://olc.spsd.sk.ca/de/pd/instr/strats/structuredcon/index.html

• http://www.ncrel.org/sdrs/areas/issues/students/atrisk/at6lk38.htm

• http://www.itlrc.com/edtech/content/learning_theories/constructivism.html

• http://www.acjournal.org/holdings/vol5/iss3/special/jones.htm