Theory in education is very important

1. INSTITUTE OF HEALTH SCIENCE
DEPARTMENT OF NURSING
PROGRAM OF MSC IN AHN & PCHN
GROUP ASSIGNMENT OF NURSING CONCEPTUAL MODELS OF
TEACHING
TITLE: CONSTRUCTIVISM
SET BY: REBIRA WORKINEH & MICHAEL MITIKU
AUGUST, 2023
NEKEMTE, ETHIOPIA

2. Constructivism
Student Name ID No
Rebira Workineh WU1500418
Michael Mitiku
Instructor: Mr. Getu Mosisa (MSc, Assistant Professor)
August, 2023
Nekemte, Ethiopia

3. OBJECTIVES
At the end of this presentation participants will be able to:
 Define constructivism
 Explain historical perspective of constructivism
 List some contributors to constructivism
 Compare between traditional & constructivist
 Explain about learning in the constructivist classroom

4. OBJECTIVES
 List the roles of teachers & students in constructivism
 Describe the benefits and characteristics of constructivism
 Express the principles of constructivism
 Discuss about educational implications of constructivism
 Debate the weakness of constructivism
 Identify the critical perspective of constructivism

5. OUTLINES
 Introduction
 Historical perspective of constructivism
 Definition of constructivism
 Traditional vs. constructivist
 In the constructivist classroom, learning…
 Benefits of constructivism

6. OUTLINES
 Characteristics of constructivism
 Principles of constructivism
 Educational implications of constructivism
 Critical perspective of constructivism
 Summary of constructivism
 References

7. Introduction
The 21st century classroom was filled with a vibrant assortment of
learners.
Students come from different types of socio-economic backgrounds
owith culturally experience, and learning styles.
These dynamics create a challenge for teachers.
Teaching must always be adjusted to the level of the pupils.
So, constructivist way of teaching might be promoted in class room.

8. Introduction…
 Refers to the idea that learners individually construct
o Meanings & knowledge for themselves as they learn.
 Emphasizes the building of meaning & knowledge that occurs in
o People's minds when they learn.

9. Definition of Constructivism
Is basically a theory based on observation & scientific study
Is about how people learn
In any case, we are active creators of our own knowledge
To do this, we must ask questions, explore, & assess what we know
Each of us generates "rules" to make sense of our experiences.
Learning is adjusting our rules to accommodate new experiences.

10. Definition of Cont’d…
Students can learn different meanings from the same lesson.
Information received is reshaped inside the learners’ mind to fit
oWithin their frame of reference.
It is a theory of learning based on the historical works of:
o Jerome Bruner
o Dewey
o Piaget
o Vygotsky, etc.

11. Definition of Cont’d…
Is learning using prior knowledge & connecting it to new information.
Challenges the learner to construct their own knowledge &
Test their understanding of the material.
Best described by Confucius' quote:
o "I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand."

12. Historical Perspective of Constructivism
Early educational philosophies didn’t give value to constructivist ideas
Children's play and exploration was seen as aimless & of little importance
However, Jean Piaget did not agree with these traditional views
Idea was based on his research on child development & learning.

13. Historical Cont’d…
This theory states that children learn by creating “mental schemes.”
These maps are needed to help them understand their environment.
Structure becomes more complex as child develops.
Today, constructivist theories are influential throughout:
Formal &
Informal learning sectors

14. Influential Constructivists
Jerome Bruner
Jean Piaget
Lev Vygotsky
John Dewey
Maria Montessori
Heinz von Foerster
George Kelly

15. Influential Constructivists…
Jean Piaget (Swiss Biologist, 1896–1980)
Developed the cognitive learning theory
Felt children were active learners
oConstruct new knowledge, through different cognitive stages
oBuild on what they already knew
He was a founder of constructivism

16. Influential Constructivists…
Piaget's Four Cognitive Stages
Sensory motor stage (0-2 years)
Learning takes place 10 through the child's senses & motor actions
Preoperational stage (2-7 years)
Children begin to use symbols and images

17. Influential Constructivists…
Concrete Operational stage (7-11 years)
Children begin to think logically
Formal Operational stage (12-15 years)
Children begin to think in an abstract way

18. Influential Constructivists…
Lev Vygotsky (Russian psychologist & philosopher in 1930)
 Developed the social cognition theory
 Culture is the prime determinant of individual development
 Humans are the only creatures to have created cultures
 Therefore, it effects our learning development

19. Influential Constructivists…
Jerome Bruner (1966-1990)
Was the most recent contributor
Has incorporated social & cognitive aspects
These ideas originated from a conference for math & science learning
A modified lesson plan was developed with his assistance

20. Influential Constructivists…
The five E’s
Engage
Explore
Explain
Elaborate
Evaluate
 In this sense education is in constant process of invention.

21. Influential Constructivists…
John Dewey
Believed that learning should be engaging to the students
Was a huge influence on our education system
Believed in educating the whole child
o Physically
o Mentally &
o Socially

22. Varieties of Constructivism
Educational constructivism
Philosophical constructivism
Sociological constructivism

23. Varieties of Constructivism…
Constructivism in Teaching
 Students are involved in meaning & knowledge construction
 Learners are the makers of meaning & knowledge
 Fosters critical thinking
 Creates motivated & independent learners

24. Traditional vs. Constructivist
Traditional
 Basic skills emphasized
 Materials are textbooks & workbooks
 Learning based on repetition
 Information disseminates to students
 Assessment is through testing
 Students work alone
CONSTRUCTIVIST
 Big concepts emphasized
 Student questions, interests are valued
 Learning is interactive
 Teacher’s role is interactive
 Variety of assessment
 Students work in groups

25. In the Constructivist Classroom, Learning is….
 Constructed: Building upon previous knowledge to create new knowledge
 Active: the student experiments, asks questions, & sets goals
 Reflective: Discuss learning experiences & reflect upon understandings
 Collaborative: Students work together& learn from one another
 Inquiry-Based: Exploration of questions
 Evolving: Ideas are changed throughout process of learning

26. The Constructivist Classroom…
.
The Constructivist
Classroom
Constructed Active
Evolving
Inquiry-
based
Collaborative Reflected

27. Role of Teachers
 All students have different backgrounds from experiences & cultural
practices
 Meet & help students connect & expand to the material
 Ensures that the material will be meaningfully related to the students
 Prompt and facilitate discussion
 Guide students by asking questions
 This will lead them to develop their own conclusions on the subject

28. Role of Student
 Must build upon the knowledge they already have
 Draw the r/p b/n old perceptions & new ideas
 New idea becomes an integrated & useful part of their memory

29. Benefits of Constructivism
Constructivist learning is transferable
Children learn more & enjoy learning
Promote divergent thinking
Ground learning activities in an authentic & real world context
Boost the confidence of learners

30. Benefits of Constructivism…
Concentrates on how to think & understand
Promote collaborative learning
Gives students ownership of what they learn
Develops student’s abilities to express knowledge in a variety of ways
Promotes social & communication skills

31. Characteristics of Constructivism
Goals & objectives are derived by the student
The learners are actively involved
The environment is democratic
The activities are interactive & student centered
Teacher facilitates a process of learning
Students are encouraged to be responsible & autonomous

32. Principles of Constructivism
 Knowledge is actively constructed by the individual
 Learning is both an individual and a social process
 Learning is a self-regulated process
 Learning is an organizational process
 Reality represents an interpretation

33. Principles of Constructivism…
Learning is a socially situated activity
Language plays an essential role in learning
Motivation is a key component in learning

34. Constructivist Theory
Cognitive Constructivism Social Constructivism
Concepts Principles
Schema
Assimilation
Accommodation
Equilibration
Learning-active, not passive
Learning-whole, authentic &
"real" to be effective.
Social
Interaction
Psychological Tools
•Language
More
Knowledgeable
Other
The Zone of
Proximal
Development
Scaffolding
• Tutoring

35. Educational Implications of Constructivism
Impact on Instruction
 Teacher as facilitator rather than authority
 Focus on making connections between facts
o Experimentation
o Open- ended questions
o Extensive reflection &
o Dialogue among students

36. Educational Implications of Constructivism…
Impact on Assessment
Ongoing assessment during instruction
De-emphasizes traditional grading methods
oSelf-assessment
oLearner articulates growth through projects &
oReflection

37. Educational Implications of Constructivism…
Impact on Curriculum
o Less standardized curriculum
o Customized to connect to learner’s prior knowledge
o Emphasizes hands- on problem- solving

38. Educational Implications of Constructivism…
Implications for Nursing Education
Nursing students discover knowledge by working through:
o Problems
o Issues &
o Common scenarios in their profession
This helps students to develop clinical reasoning skills
Helps in nursing pedagogy to develop a new framework

39. Weakness of Constructivism
The biggest disadvantage is its lack of structure
Standardized curriculum will be discarded
This could lead some students to fall behind of others
Removes grading system in the traditional way

40. Weakness of Constructivism…
Student mayn’t create knowledge as the theory asserts
But they copy what other students are doing
Students may be confused and frustrated
Most students need more structure & evaluation to succeed

41. Critical Perspective of Constructivism
Social constructivism leads to group think
Constructivism produces a “tyranny of the majority”
A few students' voices dominate the group's conclusions
There is little hard evidence that constructivist methods work
Constructivists reject evaluation by testing & external criteria
They will be unaccountable for their students' progress

42. Constructivism summary
Shifts emphasis from teaching to learning
Individualizes & contextualizes students’ learning experiences
Helps students develop processes, skills and attitudes
Considers students’ learning styles
Focuses on knowledge construction, not reproduction

43. Constructivism summary…
 Uses authentic tasks to engage learners
 Provides for meaningful, problem-based thinking
 Requires negotiation of meaning
 Requires reflection of prior and new knowledge
 Extends students beyond content presented to them

44. Conclusion
Constructivist teaching
 Fosters critical thinking & creates active and motivated learners
 Free teachers to make decisions
 Is beautiful experience if done with the right attitude & happy mind

45. References
1. Christie, A. (2005). Constructivism and its implications for educators.
2. Clarkson, B., & Brook, C. (n.d.). I can’t understand why I didn’t pass:
Scaffolding student activities.
3. Lorsbach, A. (n.d.). The learning cycle as a tool for planning science
instruction.
4. Murphy, E. (1997). Thirteen Ed Online (2004). Constructivism as a
paradigm for teaching and learning.
5. "Vygotsky and Social Cognition." Funderstanding: Education and
Training for Active Learners. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Apr. 2010.