2. What is Constructivism?
Constructivism is the name of the learning theory
that places learning as an active process.
Constructivism is seen as the building upon of
previous knowledge that the student already
possesses.
Successful constructivism is achieved through
asking questions, exploring, and assessing what
the student knows.
3. Fathers of Constructivism.
Lev Vygotsky- founder of the Vygotsky
scaffoldong method which states that students
need levels of assistance to understand a topic.
Jean Piaget- founder of the developmental stage
theory.
John Dewey- founder of functional psychology.
5. Constructivism in the Classroom
Students are viewed as thinkers with emerging
theories about the world.
Students primarily work in groups.
Pursuit of student questions is highly valued.
Assessment of student learning is interwoven
with teaching and occurs through teacher
observation of students at work and through
exhibitions and portfolios.
6. Constructivism in the Classroom Cont.
Curriculum is presented whole to part with
emphasis on the big concept.
Teachers generally behave in an interactive
manner mediating the environment for students.
Teachers seek the student’s view in order to
understand student learning for use in
subsequent conceptions.
7. Constructivism and Me.
I am a fan of using constructivism in my own
classroom. Due to the fact that I will be teaching
higher level history, the success of my students
will be based on the previous knowledge that they
are expected to have. I personally feel that it is of
high importance that the larger concepts are fully
understood by the students before adding more
complex topics and ideas.
