Constructivism is a theory that focuses on students actively participating in the learning process through critical thinking and problem solving to construct their own understanding. Key aspects of the theory include students as active learners who build knowledge based on their experiences, the idea that knowledge construction depends on age and development, and that learning is social and coincides with social development. Teachers aim to facilitate understanding through hands-on activities and experiences while students learn by doing.

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Constructivism:
A theory which focuses on students
actively participating in the learning
process by analyzing problems and using
critical thinking skills in order to
“construct” their own understanding of a
topic.
Emma Anderson

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Based on the idea that a learner
individually forms much of what they learn
Children are considered active
learners, who do not need excessive
motivation from adults
Children, as they get older, construct
knowledge differently.
Children can use past or current knowledge
as a base on which to learn
Learning can coincide with a child’s social
development
Education begins by having experiences
Emma Anderson

4. Teacher Perspective
Student Perspective
What the
does under
this theory?
(with and without technology)
What the
do under this
theory?
(with and without technology)
Kyle Caldwell

5. Teacher Perspective
Student Perspective
Under this theory, teachers try to have their
students understand the material by doing.
Example of what a teacher does under this theory:
 For a lesson on endangered species, have the
students do a research project on a specific
species. Then, have the students go on the San
Diego Zoo’s website and watch the interactions of
the animal to give the animal a sort of life to the
project.
Under this theory, students learn by doing. So, it is
important for the students to have hands on
activities.
For example:
 If a student is struggling with math, based on this
theory, it would help the student understand the
problem if the teacher brought in objects.
 Specifically, if the student is struggling with
fractions, bring in a pizza and divide it into eighths
to let the child see and feel what the fractions are.
Kyla Caldwell

6. Jean Piaget (1896-1980)
 Swiss biologist and psychologist
 Great pioneer of the constructive
theory of knowing
 Developed cognitive learning theory
and developmental psychology
 Identified four stages of mental
development
(semorimotor, preoperational, concrete
operational, and formal operational)
 Received the Erasmus Prize in 1972 and
Balzan Prize in 1978 & 10 other
international prizes
 Published over 50 books and 500 papers
Christa Haggerty

7. Jerome Bruner (1915-)
 American psychologist and educator
 Believes that learning is an active
process in which the learner constructs
new ideas or concepts based on their
current or past knowledge
 Contributed to human cognitive
psychology, cognitive learning
theory, and general philosophy of
education
 Awards: international Balzan Prize, CIBA
Gold Medal for Distinguished Research
Distinguished Scientific Award of the
American Psychological Association
 Currently a researcher at New York
University School of Law
Christa Haggerty

8. Lev Vygotsky (1896-1934)
 Russian educational
psychologist, and interested in
children cognitive development
 Developed social cognition
 Believed that learning was
influenced significantly by social
development
 Known for the zone of proximal
development and the theory of
cultural-historical psychology
 Leader of the Vygotsky Circle
Christa Haggerty

9. John Dewey (1859-1952)
 American educational
psychologist, philosopher, and
political activist who was an
advocate for child-centered
instruction, progressive
education, educator’s
rights, humanistic movement, and
women’s suffrage.
 Known as the Father of American
Education
 Creator of the University Elementary
School, or “Dewey School”
 One of the founders of functional
psychology and behaviorist
psychology
 Influenced American education
significantly and was a major voice of
progressive education and liberalism
Christa Haggerty

10. “When I become a teacher I will incorporate certain
aspects of this theory, but not all of it. I agree that the
learner will construct what they learn but some things
(like math) won’t be able to be constructed many
ways. Therefore, I will use a different technique to
teach different subjects. As for relating the
information back to the students lives, I completely
agree from personal experience. When learning new
information, I always make connections to my own
life to help myself remember it. Constructivism works
best when learners are actively engaged and selfdirected. For those who are not motivated, this theory
will not be effective. It is important to identify who this
will work for and who it will not so you can plan and
teach accordingly.”
Toni O’Connell

12. http://www.biography.com/people/jea
n-piaget-9439915
 http://oaks.nvg.org/jerome-bruner.html
 http://vygotsky.afraid.org/
 http://www.biography.com/people/john
-dewey-9273497
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