Week One - Constructivism

In the Constructivist theory the emphasis is placed on the learner or the student rather than the teacher or the instructor. It is the learner who interacts with objects and events and thereby gains an understanding of the features held by such objects or events. The learner, therefore, constructs his/her own conceptualizations and solutions to problems. Learner autonomy and initiative is accepted and encouraged.

Constructivists view learning as the result of mental construction. Students learn by fitting new information together with what they already know. People learn best when they actively construct their own understanding.

In constructivist thinking learning is also affected by the context and the beliefs and attitudes of the learner. Learners are encouraged to invent their own solutions and to try out ideas and hypotheses. They are given the opportunity to build on prior knowledge.

Constructivism ...

• emphasizes learning and not teaching
• encourages and accepts learner autonomy and initiative
• sees learners as creatures of will and purpose
• thinks of learning as a process
• encourages learner inquiry
• acknowledges the critical role of experience in learning
• nurtures learners natural curiosity
• takes the learner's mental model into account
• emphasizes performance and understanding when assessing learning
• bases itself on the principles of the cognitive theory
• makes extensive use of cognitive terminology such as predict, create and analyze
• considers how the student learns
• encourages learners to engage in dialogue with other students and the teacher
• supports co-operative learning
• involves learners in real world situations
• emphasizes the context in which learning takes place
• considers the beliefs and attitudes of the learner
• provides learners the opportunity to construct new knowledge and understanding from authentic experience
•
go to site

The Questions

• What is it about Constructivism that makes it so richly connected to technology integration and vise versa?

• Why is Constructivism so difficult to implement is some educational settings? Are there some settings that seem more open to this approach while others pose a greater “natural resistance” to a Constructivist approach? Explain your thinking

• Are you a Constructivist? Should you be? Explain

Readings

If I Teach This Way, Am I Doing My Job? Constructivism in the Classroom
By Debra Sprague and Christopher Dede
go to site

TAP into Learning, the on-line newsletter of the Technology Assistance Program at Southwest Educational Development laboratory. Please select the pdf "Constructivism & Technology"
go to site

A Journey into Constructivism
Martin Dougiamas - November, 1998
go to site

Constructivism and the Five E's
go to site