Constructivism

Sunny Science Seekers1/26/14

Theorists

• Jean Piaget

• Lev Vygotsky

• John Dewey

• Jerome Bruner

http://chatafrik.com/special/world-ideas/jean-piaget--men-of-ideas#.UuFHXXn0CmE

http://vygotsky.afraid.org/

http://www.biography.com/imported/images/Biography/Images/Profiles/D/John-Dewey-9273497-1-402.jpg

http://www.greenreport.it/_archivio2011/?page=default&id=%2011924

Key Points

• Learn by doing. (Shelly Cashman, 266)

• Based on a type of learning where one learns or creates ideas based on what he/she learns or comprehends. (Shelly Cashman, 266)

• Learning is an active process in which meaning accomplished on the basis of experience. http://mennta.hi.is/starfsfolk/solrunb/construc.htm

• The learner is the center of the learning process. It has to do with language, real world situations, and interaction and collaboration. http://www.fountainmagazine.com/Issue/detail/CONSTRUCTIVISM-in-Piaget-and-Vygotsky

• It emphasizes problem solving and understanding. (http://www.niu.edu/facdev/programs/handouts/ constructivism.pdf)

What does the teacher do?

• Within the classroom, teachers focus on big ideas, beginning with a whole and expanding to include the parts. (http://www.thirteen.org/edonline/concept2class/constructivism/)

• Teachers constantly ask their students how the activity has helped them gain understanding of the specific topic. (http://www.thirteen.org/edonline/concept2class/constructivism/)

• Teachers should engage students by providing activities that guide students an create opportunities for discussion or for using the Socratic method of learning. (Shelly Cashman, 269

• Teachers can use web quests, scavenger and treasure hunts, curriculum resource pages, and many other education resources that help in the learning process (Shelly Cashman, 268)

What does the student do?

• By having the students consistently ask questions, it enables students to broaden their knowledge. (http://www.thirteen.org/edonline/concept2class/constructivism/

• Students engage in cognitive approaches such as questioning, predicting, summarizing, and clarifying (http://www.fountainmagazine.com/Issue/detail/CONSTRUCTIVISM-in-Piaget-and-Vygotsky)

• Students are involved in the learning process by working in groups and being actively guided by the teacher in order to absorb and understand information as much as possible.

• Constructivist learning often includes the use of personal computers so that students can have access to numerous resources and tools to facilitate learning.

• It provides an active learning environment for students where they have various opportunities to work together and use different programs to aid in concept comprehension.

• Without technology, students have group assignments and engage in hands-on activities such as field trips, modeling, and presentations. (http://www.fountainmagazine.com/Issue/detail/CONSTRUCTIVISM-in-Piaget-and-Vygotsky)

Constructivism

• I believe that this form of teaching is beneficial for both the students and the teachers.

• This method of teaching enhances the students’ ability to continuously ask questions and seek for the answer.

• This way of teaching enables teachers to focus on a given topic and allows the students to explore.

• Furthermore, it allows students to learn through their experiences.

Constructivism Quiz

Joanna Young

Instructions

• You will now be completing the “Constructivism Quiz.”

• Answer the following multiple choice questions.

• Click the correct answer.

• If the answer is correct, you will be able to proceed through the quiz.

• If the answer was incorrect, you will be able to try again.

Question 1• A) Seeing

• B) Hearing

• C) Doing

• D) All of the above

Constructivism is based on learning by

_____________________.

Question 2

• A) help the students find the answers in the book.

• B) prevent students from developing their own ideas.

• C) allow students to ask one question.

• D) guide students to create opportunities for discussion.

Teachers should engage students by providing

activities that will _______________________.

Question 3

• A) It enables students to broaden their knowledge.

• B) It allows the students to engage in cognitive approaches such as questioning, predicting, summarizing, and clarifying.

• C) It helps the students work in groups and allows them to be actively guided by the teacher in order to absorb and understand information as much as possible.

• D) All of the above.

How does formulating questions benefit the

students, within a constructivist environment?

Question 4

• A) Students have access to numerous resources and tools to facilitate learning.

• B) It provides an active learning environment for students where they have very limited opportunities to work together

• C) It enables students to use one program to aid in concept comprehension.

• D) Personal computers are deemed as a problem as opposed to a resource.

What is one example of how personal computers

beneficial for students in a constructivist environment?