Constructivist teaching strategies can be used to enrich lessons beyond typical bird unit curriculum. These strategies include problem-based learning, inquiry-based learning, and project-based learning which allow students to engage more deeply with information by generating their own questions and solutions rather than being given imposed questions. By collaborating with teachers, librarians can help design lessons aligned with curriculum standards that use constructivist approaches to motivate social learning, problem solving, and demonstrate skills through assessment.

1. Constructivist Teaching StrategiesAn Audio Comment on Beyond the Bird Unit by Jennifer Robins

2. Basis of Beyond the Bird UnitUsing Constructivist Teaching Strategies to Enrich Lessons that go Beyond the Bird UnitProblem-Based LearningInquiry-Based LearningProject-Based LearningCombining StrategiesThe Problem with the Bird UnitsLibrarians did the work for the studentsStudents did not engage with the informationStudents were not challenged to make their own inquiriesPreference for imposed questions instead of student generated questionsEnrich Learning through School Library UseCurriculum StandardsTeacher and Teacher-Library CollaborationsConstructivist Teaching Issues: motivationsocial learningproblem solvingestablishing credibilityassessment

3. ReferencesRobins, J. (2005). Beyond the bird unit. Teacher Librarian, 33(2), 8-19. http://search.ebscohost.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org