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Constructivism
Nicole, Berkeley, Melissa, Liza, Sophia

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Jean Piaget
 Psychologist
 Believed that children were constructing new knowledge as
they moved through different cognitive stages
 Children have 4 cognitive stages
 Sensorimotor
 Preoperational
 Concrete Operational
 Formal Operational

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Jerome Bruner
 Psychologist and educator
 Proposed that learning is an active process
 Participatory learners
 Emphasized integrated curriculum where students learn in
various way
 Technology is a big contributor

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Key Points of Constructivism
 Constructivism: Problem-based learning
 Four leading theorists:
 Piaget, Bruner, Vygotsky, and Dewey
 Mentoring and Facilitating given by instructors
 Guides students with support and assistance

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Key Points Continued
 Promotes “Self-Direction”
 Students make connections through learning
 Includes “Discovery Learning”
 Based on environmental exploration using trial and error

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Teacher’s Response
 The teacher gives the students leeway to “construct” their own
version of what is learned
 The teacher will link the new material with material that the
students should already know, thus making it easier for the
students to associate the new material to something they are
comfortable with
 Instead of teaching the material the teacher, who in this theory
should be looked at as a facilitator, should create an
environment where the student is allowed to reach a conclusion
all on their own. With some guiding help from the facilitator

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Teacher’s Response Continued
 The teacher also needs to create the environment so that the
students feel challenged and know that they are supported to
“construct” their own way of thinking.
 The teacher must also be aware that he or she must adapt to
the environment of the class and classroom and might have to
play multiply roles for the students.
 The overall goal for the teacher is to get the students to the
answer with just a few guidelines, using techniques like
reciprocal questioning and jigsaw classroom to get them there.

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Student’s Response
 Students learn by forming or constructing what they are
learning or comprehending.
 Students are actively involved.
 A student constructs ideas by basing it off of previous
knowledge they have learned.

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Student’s Response Continued
 Students are suppose to base their knowledge and theories on
their background, culture, etc.
 Students do not need to be motivated by adults because they
think very differently.
 Overall students are expected to come up with knowledge on
their own based on their own experiences. Also, students do
not need to adults to motivate them because they are
motivated themselves to learn.

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Positive Thoughts on
Constructivism
 Support:
 Students enjoy learning more as they are actively involved
 Prevents students from focusing on rote memorization and
more on thinking and understanding
 Creates organizing principles that students can take with them
to other classrooms and throughout life
 Ownership of what they learn as they did it themselves and not
through a book

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Negative Thoughts on
Constructivism
 Criticism:
 Learning by doing may not be the best learning stategy
 Not all techniques may be best for all learners
 Some have called it unguided because of the lack of structure
 Throws students into learning practice without any prior
knowledge