This document discusses how computers can support constructivist and social constructivist learning paradigms. It describes constructivism as knowledge constructed by individuals and social constructivism as knowledge constructed within social contexts. The computer is presented as a tool that can provide information, foster social knowledge building, and enhance communication. Specifically, it can serve as an informative tool, communication tool, constructive tool, co-constructive tool, and situating tool to support different aspects of individual and social learning.

1. Lesson 11: The Computer as
the Teacher’s Tool
Reporters:
Lorenzana, John Erick BSE-3C
Rabeje, Evangeline BSE-3F

2. In this lesson, we shall
again look at the computer, but
this time from another
perspective, the computer as the
teacher’s handy-tool. It can in fact
support the constructivist and
social constructivist paradigms of
constructivist learning.

3.  Constructivist was introduced by Piaget
(1981) and Bruner (1990). They gave
stress to knowledge discovery of new
meaning/concepts/principles in the
learning process.
 While knowledge is constructed by the
individual learner in constructivism,
knowledge can also be socially
constructed.

4.  The psychologist Vygotsky stressed that
learning is affected by social influences.
He therefore suggested the interactive
process in learning. The more capable
adult (teacher or parent) or classmate
can aid or complement what the learner
sees in a given class project. In addition,
Dewey sees language as a medium for
social coordination and adaptation. For
Dewey human learning is really human
languaging that occurs when students
socially share, build and agree upon
meanings and knowledge.

5. Learning
Framework
Constructivism Social Constructivism
Assumption Knowledge is
constructed by the
individual.
Knowledge is constructed within
a social context.
Definition of
Learning
Students build their
own learning.
Students build knowledge
influenced by the social context.
Learning
Strategies
Gather unorganized
information to create
new
concept/principle
Exchange and share from ideas,
stimulates thinking.
General
Orientation
Personal discovery
of knowledge.
Students discuss and discover
meanings
Example 8*5-8+8+8+8+8 Two alternative job offers option
1-8 hrs/day for 6days/week
Option 2-9 hrs/day for 5
days/week
FIGURE 7 - Summary Of The Two Learning
Perspective

6. The Computer’s Capabilities
Given its present-day speed,
flexibility and sophistication, the
computer can provide ;
◦ access to information,
◦ foster creative social knowledge
building,
◦ and enhance the communication of
the achieved project package.

7. Based on the two learning theories,
the teacher can employ the computer
as a/an:
 As an information tool
 A communication tool
 A constructive tool
 As co-constructive tool
 A situating tool

8. Informative tool
The computer can provide vast
amounts of information in various
forms, such as text, graphics,
sound and video. Even
multimedia encyclopedias are
today available on the internet.

9. Informative tool cont…
 Along the constructivist point of view, it is not
enough for learners to download relevant
information using the computer as an
information tool. Students can use gathered
information for composition or presentation
projects as may be assigned by the teacher.
Given the fact that the internet can serve as
a channel for global communication, the
computer can very well be the key tool for
video teleconferencing sessions.

10. Constructive Tool
 The computer itself can be used for
manipulating information, visualizing
one’s understanding and building new
knowledge. The Microsoft Word
computer program itself is a desktop
publishing software that allows uses to
organize and present their ideas in
attractive formats.

11. Co-constructive Tools
 Students can use constructive tools to
work cooperatively and construct a
shared understanding of new
knowledge. On ways of co-constructive
is the use of the electronic whiteboard
where students may post notices to a
shared document/whiteboard. Students
may also co-edit the same document
from their homes.

12. Situating Tool
 By means of virtual reality (RS) extension
systems, the computer can create 3-D
images on display to give the user the
feeling that are situated in a virtual
environment. A flight simulation program is
an example of situating tool which places
the user in a simulated flying environment.
◦ To caution users, the computer as a situating tool is
news and still undergoing further research and
development.