The document discusses constructivism, a learning theory where students actively construct new knowledge based on personal experiences and social interactions. It outlines the perspectives of several theorists like Piaget, Bruner, Vygotsky, and Dewey who saw learning as an active process where students build on prior knowledge through hands-on learning and collaboration. The implications are that teachers act as guides facilitating exploration and students take responsibility for their own learning through group work and technology. However, the theory may not be as effective for more linear subjects like mathematics that require a set order of learning concepts.

1. By: M.D.

2. Constructivist Thought
 Constructivism states that people create new
knowledge based on personal experiences and old
knowledge.
 This method of teaching encourages students to use
higher-order thinking, like analyzing, to learn.
 Learning is an active process of constructing new
knowledge through social interaction.
 Each student interprets information
differently.

3. Jean Piaget
 Piaget was a psychologist, and through his
work he concluded that children are active
learners.
 Four stages of learning as children age,
each stage helping to construct knowledge
to an equilibrium.
 Technology is useful because it offers
opportunities for learning to all students,
regardless of their learning style.

4. Jerome Bruner
 Bruner believed that teachers should encourage
students to discover concepts themselves.
 Students should continually build upon what they
have learned, a method called spiral curriculum.
 Using the Socratic method will allow students to
construct information and use higher-order thinking
skills.
 Technology allows for students to engage in learning
through many activities, a crucial part of
constructivism.

5. Lev Vygotsky
 Vygotsky developed social cognition, which centers
around the development of children in their social
environment.
 Social development heavily influences learning.
 Students should practice collaborative learning,
because they can share knowledge and experiences.
 Anchored instruction allows for technology to aid in
learning, by giving known information as the anchor,
and allowing students to explore from that point.

6. John Dewey
 Dewey believed that education began with experience,
and that students should be actively involved in their
learning.
 Students learn by doing, and teachers should serve as
guides to students.
 Learning is a social process, and the school should
reflect that social aspect.
 Students should work together to learn and play an
active role in their construction of knowledge.

7. Teacher Implications
 Under this theory, the teacher is responsible for providing
material to students, so that they can use it to teach
themselves.
 The teacher acts as a guide, helping students when needed,
but allowing for them to explore and practice their own
hypotheses.
 The teacher also allows students to work together, and
helps to pair them up so that students can aid each other
through different personal experiences.
 The teacher also provides technology-based activities that
allow students to learn using various learning styles and
exploration.

8. Student Implications
 This theory places the student as a
motivated learner, and makes it
their responsibility to actively seek
out knowledge.
 Students work together to share
experiences in order to assimilate
knowledge.
 Students practice and actively work
with technology available to them
to suit their learning styles, such as
the internet or digital media.

9. Personal Use of Constructivism
 While the theory is useful, I do not think it would
work for mathematics very well.
 Mathematics has a more linear method, having to
learn one thing before moving to the next.
 Constructivism gives too much freedom to the
student, and they would find themselves confused
without the proper order of learning.
 Could be used in ways such as group projects where
students actively work with material they have learned
in the class.

10. Image Credits
 http://granitegrok.com/blog/2009/06/the_problems_
with_constructivism
 http://fountainmagazine.net/article.php?ARTICLEID
=418
 http://koonjtalpur.wordpress.com/2011/04/

11. Information Credits
 Teachers Discovering Computers: Integrating
Technology In A Connected World. 7th ed. Shelly,
Gunter, Gunter.
 http://www.learning-
theories.com/constructivism.html