Constructivism is a learning theory where students actively construct new knowledge based on previous learning and experiences. Key contributors include Piaget, Bruner, Vygotsky, and Dewey. According to constructivism, learning occurs best when students form hypotheses and conclusions through hands-on projects and problem solving. Teachers should understand each student's development level and encourage assessment of learning. Classrooms using constructivism have students apply prior knowledge to hands-on activities, work collaboratively, and use technology like videos, virtual tours, and online games to construct new understandings.

1. CONSTRUCTIVISM By: Courtney

2. IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTORSJean PiagetJerome Bruner Lev VygotskyJohn Dewey

3. Key Points of ConstructivismLearning is an active, constructive process. Students learn by doing.Students form or construct what they learn based on previous knowledge.New Information is linked to prior knowledge.The learner uses past experiences and cultural factors to build upon their learning.

4. Constructive Learning Model

5. Classroom Implications for the TeacherExcluding TechnologyIncorporating TechnologyHave students participate in hands-on experiments & projects.Encourage students to constantly assess how the activity is helping them gain understanding.Allow for problem-solving and inquiry-based learning activities. Discuss with students what they have learned, and how their observations and experiments helped (or did not help) them to better understand the concept.Teachers should discover the level of each child’s cognitive/social development. Allow the students to watch educational videos about specific topics and have class discussions.Have students take virtual tours online and share their experiences.Provide activities and learning strategies on PowerPoint slides to keep students thinking and interacting.

6. Classroom Implications for Students Basic TechnologyStudents become engaged by applying their existing knowledge and real-world experience, learning to hypothesize, testing their theories, and ultimately drawing conclusions from their findings. Students participate in learning activities and projects.Students work collaboratively with each other to share different perspectives. Students generate news ideas based on what they already know.Students can use handheld computers to work together to solve various math problems.Students can work collaboratively on online games and trivia relating to various topic. Students can use the internet to learn new ideas and apply it to their existing knowledge.

7. My Thoughts on ConstructivismI personally like the constructive approach to teaching. It allows for more opportunities in the classroom rather than just traditional lectured based teaching. Being able to actively participate and visualize lessons allows the students to learn by doing instead of just listening. I believe that the constructive style of teaching is an effective method because it challenges the students to think and formulate ideas based on what they already know. This approach is definitely something that I will use in my own classroom.