Constructivism holds that students learn best through active participation and constructing their own understanding. Key theorists who contributed to constructivism include Piaget, Bruner, Vygotsky, and Dewey. Piaget identified four stages of cognitive development in children. Bruner believed learning is an active process where students construct new ideas based on prior knowledge through exploration. Vygotsky emphasized social development influences learning. Dewey advocated for child-centered, experiential learning activities relevant to students.

2.  Confucious once said, “I hear and I
forget. I see and I remember. I do and I
understand.”
 Constructivists agree with this quote.
They understand that the best way for
students to learn is for them to actively
participate in the learning process.

3.  The best way for students to learn is to
use critical-thinking skills to analyze a
problem. By doing this, they will create or
construct, their own understanding of a
topic or problem.

4.  Jean Piaget
 Jerome Bruner
 Lev Vygotsky
 John Dewey

5.  Piaget was a psychologist who developed the
cognitive learning theory after observing children
for many years.
 Piaget defined four cognitive stages:
› 1. Sensorimotor-when learning takes place primarily
through the child’s senses and motor actions.
› 2. Preoperational-when children begin to use symbols
and images and play pretend games.
› 3. Concrete Operational-Children begin to think
logically.
› 4. Formal Operation-This stage begins around age 12
and children begin to learn many facts and other
viewpoints besides their own.

6.  An American psychologist and
educator, Jerome proposed that
learning is an active process in which the
learner constructs new ideas or concepts
based on his current or past knowledge.
 Bruner felt that teachers needed to
encourage students through exploration
and learning through discovery.

7.  A Russian educational psychologist, Lev
Vygotsky developed social cognition.
 He believed that learning was influenced
drastically by social development.

8.  An educational psychologist,
philosopher, and political activist
advocating child-centered instruction.
 He believed that teachers need to
engage activities that the students could
relate to.
 He was a part of the movement called
progressive education. This movement
focused on educating the child as a
whole-mind, body, and socially.

9.  http://webspace.ship.edu/cgboer/piag
et.html
 http://www.phillwebb.net/topics/human
/Bruner/Bruner.htm
 http://www.sonic.net/~cr2/sociohis.htm