2. KEY PEOPLE ASSOCIATED WITH CONSTRUCTIVISM
Jean Piaget (1896-1980)
• Developed the cognitive learning theory through observation of
children.
Jerome Bruner (1915-Present)
• Constructivist learners learn by participation
and being actively engaged.
Lev Vygotsky (1896-1934)
• Developed social cognition.
John Dewey (1859-1952)
• Advocate for child-centered instruction.
Jean Piaget
Photo from childpsych.umwblogs.org
3. KEY POINTS OF CONSTRUCTIVISM
• Learning is an active process; knowledge is constructed
• Emphasis on ways that people create meaning of the world through
a series of individual constructs
• theory of knowledge with roots in
philosophy, psychology, and
cybernetics” – Von Glaserfeld
• Learning process which allows a
student to experience an
environment first-hand, thereby,
giving the student reliable, trust-
worthy knowledge.
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4. KEY POINTS OF CONSTRUCTIVISM
• People construct their own understanding and knowledge of the
world through experiencing things and reflecting on those
experiences
• Students learn by doing
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5. TEACHERS AND CONSTRUCTIVISM
Fundamental Purpose
• Teacher encourages students’ to build on previous knowledge by self-
discovery.
• They act as facilitators of learning by creating a nurturing educational
environment and guiding the learning process for students.
What Critics Are Saying
• Students’ cannot properly identify what it is they should be learning.
• Counter – Teachers carefully moderate students’ learning and the level of
their prior knowledge.
• Teachers cannot cover enough material of students’ direct their educational.
• Counter – Well trained facilitators can plan and organize problem-solving
learning ( that targets a student’s prior knowledge) to teach the subject
material fully.
Information from learning-theories.com
6. TEACHERS AND CONSTRUCTIVISM
How Teachers Implement Theory in Learning Process
In General With Technology
• Create assignments that allow • Encourage communication
students to use their prior between students and
knowledge and experiences to teachers through email and
problem solve. message boards.
• Allow students to explore a • Encourage use software to
broad topic on their own and help students learn problem
elaborate their learning in the solving and creative design.
process. • Teachers should provide an
• Create activities and projects environment where students
that cater to students of can use technology in their
varying learning styles (I.E. learning if they find it
auditory, visual, and physical). stimulating and helpful.
Information from ndt-ed.org
7. STUDENTS AND CONSTRUCTIVISM
What do the students do under Constructivism?
• The student is put at the center of the educational stage.
• Constructivism means that knowledge can’t be handed down
from person to person (like taught by a teacher to a student)
but instead it is constructed by each
learner through interpreting and
reinterpreting a constant flow of
information.
• Students are constantly
challenging their own assumptions.
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