Constructivism is a learning theory based on the idea that learning involves actively constructing knowledge rather than passively receiving information. Several theorists contributed to the development of constructivism, including Piaget who observed children's cognitive development through four stages, Bruner who saw learning as constructing new ideas based on prior knowledge, and Vygotsky who emphasized that social learning influences cognitive development. Constructivist teaching strategies include engaging students through hands-on activities and social experiences to facilitate students actively building their own understandings.

1. Constructivism
Bryan G.
Alison T.

2. Jean Piaget
(1896-1980), Piaget was a psychologist who developed the cognitive learning
theory after he observed children for many years. Piaget formed the 4
cognitive stages
Jerome Bruner
(1915- ), an American psychologist and educator who proposed that
learning is an active process in which the learner constructs new ideas or
concepts based on current or past knowledge
Lev Vygotsky
(1896-1934), a Russian educational psychologist. He developed what is
known as social cognition, he believed that learning was influenced
significantly by social development.
John Dewey
(1859-1952), was an education psychologist, philosopher, and political
activist who was an advocate for child-centered instruction. Believed that
learning should be engage the learner.

3. Students learn by doing
“When students actively participate in the learning process by using critical-
thinking skills to analyze a problem, they will create, or construct their own
understanding of the topic or problem.”(p.376)
Constructivist theory
“based on a type of learning in which the learner forms, or constructs, much
of what he or she learns or comprehends.”(p.376)
Adaption, Assimilation, Accommodation
“Adaption is their cognitive understanding or development at any given
time. Assimilation: children assimilate new knowledge as the experience
new things and learn new information. Accommodation: children fit this
information or these experiences into their lives to change their knowledge
base and to make sense of their environment”(p.378)
Social Cognition
“Vygotsky believed that learning was influenced significantly by social
development. He theorized that leaning took place within the context of a
child's social development and culture. (p.380)

4. Jean Piaget

5. Sensorimotor
Imitation, learn through senses and motor activities, do not understand the
world around them, and egocentric
Preoperational
Egocentric, pretend play, drawing ability, speech and communication
development, concrete thinking, and intuitive reasoning
Concrete operational
Classification, logical reasoning, problem
solving, and beginnings of abstract thinking
Formal operational
Comparative reasoning, abstract thinking,
deductive logic, and test hypotheses

6. Teachers use
Teachers generally behave in an interactive manner mediating the
environment for students.
Teachers seek the student's point of view in order to understand student
learning for use in subsequent conceptions.
Assessment of student learning is interwoven with teaching and occurs
through teacher observation of students at work and through exhibitions
and portfolios.
Students use
Students primarily work in groups.
Curriculum is presented whole to part with emphasis on the big
concept.(top - down)
Pursuit of student questions is highly valued.
Curricular activities rely heavily on primary sources.
Students are viewed as thinkers with emerging theories about the
world.

7. Alison
This learning theory is present in the young children learning process. To
ride a bike takes practice, its something that you just cant learn word of
mouth or through text. With math, this theory best expresses my learning
style; I need to be able to practice the math example to actually understand
it. In my opinion, this is also the major theory behind learning sports or
music. You need to actually participate to thoroughly learn the lesson. You
can sit there and read about football or baseball and have the concept down,
but still not know how to actually play it until you go out and play.
Bryan
This theory holds that the purpose of learning is for a student to construct
his or her own meaning, not just memorize the “right” answers and
regurgitate someone else’s meaning. One way I would incorporate this
theory into my classroom is by creating an activity, project or some kind of
experience so that I can set students to work as soon as possible and then
teach what I want them to know and understand by offering suggestions as
they work. I feel that in a classroom setting the teacher needs to create the
activities that will motivate students to learn so that moments where you the
teacher can explain something to each students can emerge like popcorn
snapping to life in a popcorn machine.

8. “I hear and I forget. I see and I
remember. I do and I understand.”
~Confucius

9. Cognitive Stages Chart
http://faculty.plattsburgh.edu/william.gaeddert/images/M13-1c2.jpg-
(img on slide 4)
from text book
Slides 2,3,5
Piaget Image
http://www.flickr.com/photos/josemota/3617683026/
(img on slide 5)
Children image
http://01.edu-cdn.com/files/static/g/pcl_0001_0001_0_img0050.jpg
(Slide 8)