Learning Theory: Constructivism

1. Constructivism
M. Folgueras
C. Franzosa
A. Harris
C. Munger
D. Pacheco

2. Key Points
 Constructivism focuses mostly on the learner. There is constant need of
students and teachers to challenge each other’s assumption, which
encourages students to think hard about the problem or topic and come
up with great answers.

This philosophy states that students learn best when they are doing.
Students need to be actively engaged and participate in the classroom.
Children are born natural active learners. They use critical thinking skills
to analyze a problem and then they can construct their own
understanding of the problem.
 As children move through different cognitive stages they are building on
what they already know.
 Constructivism states that students learn mostly through real life
experiences. Each different life experience teaches them a valuable
lesson and they use these lessons in the classroom to solve other
problems.

3. Key People
 Jean Piaget
 Developed the cognitive
learning theory
 Believed that for children
to learn to their highest
potential they should be
allowed to construct their
own knowledge
 Strongly believed that a
child’s development
precedes learning

4. Key People cont.
 Lev Vygotsky
 Focused on the role of
social interaction
 Emphasized the importance
of culture and the
importance of the social
context for cognitive
development
 Believed learning was
influenced mainly by social
development

5. Key People cont.
 Jerome Bruner
 Believed that learning is an
active process where
students construct new
ideas based on previous
knowledge
 Felt that students should be
actively engaged while
learning
 Believed that the role of
teachers is to encourage
students to learn new
concepts on their own

6. Key People cont.
 John Dewey
 Believed that learning
should engage and increase
the experiences of students
 Emphasized cooperative
learning
 Believed that a schools job
was to do more than just
educate

7. Classroom Implications: Teacher
 Tools for the teacher
 With technology
 Inspiration, Kidspiration and Webspiration
 Inspiration software is a good tool for students because it helps to
learning and empowers them to embrace their own learning styles.
Inspiration software allows students to understand their unique
learning styles and also allows them to learn how to apply and use all
those learning styles for the future by helping them think critically and
enhance creative thinking.
 Without technology
 KWL(H) Chart
 What a student knows, What a students wants to know, What a student
has learned and How that student has learned it. This constructivist
learning model has been used for a very long time. It is helpful
because it allows students to track their own progress and embrace
the lesson they are learning. If a student doesn't understand something
or finds that they didn't answer their own question of the end of the
lesson they can go back and retrace their steps until they are sure they
have completely obtained their full knowledge of the subject.

8. Classroom Implications: Student
 Tools for the student
 With technology
 Under the constructivist theory, students can use technology as a
visual thinking tool in order to not only think critically but expand
their knowledge. An example of this would be using programs such
as PowerPoint and Inspiration, where they are visually seeing their
graphic organizers and presentations which allow them to express
their knowledge.
 Without technology
 Under the constructivist theory, students without technology can
use mind maps and KWL charts which allows them to see what they
have learned and express their knowledge in their own words
without needing technology in order to do so.

9. Theory In Regards to Our Teaching
 Constructivism is a good philosophy to have in the classroom. We like the
ideas of this philosophy a lot. Students should learn by doing because it
allows them to experience the learning in a way that they will remember and
also enjoy. This philosophy allows kids to construct their own view about
different problems and for the world. It encourages students to be creative,
a trait we believe is so important.
 As a teacher you can’t be too overbearing over your students especially when
it comes to how they learn and what they learn. If we truly want our
students to learn something then we have to allow them to learn that lesson
their own way and through their own classroom experiences and not just by
what the book says or else they won’t remember that lesson the following
week.
 In most school systems students are being force fed a lot of lessons and not
actually understanding what they are being taught. If we want our students
to actually remember and understand what we are trying to teach them,
then they must create that understanding by themselves, at their own pace;
of course as teachers we must be there to help and facilitate the lessons and
materials however.

10. Sources
http://www.fountainmagazine.com/Issue/detail/CONSTR
UCTIVISM-in-Piaget-and-Vygotsky
http://www.biography.com/people/jean-piaget-9439915
http://www.education.com/reference/article/vygotskylev-semenovich-1896-1934/
http://ece205.wikispaces.com/Jerome+Bruner
http://mmcvilardi.blogspot.com