Learning Theory: Constructivism

Alexis M.

Nicole C.

Andrew L.

Judith O.

Jaclyn T.

Morgan D.

Key Points of Constructivism

• Students learn by doing. When students vigorously

participate in any type of learning process by using critical

thinking skills to complete a problem, they will do so by

their OWN understanding of the problem.

• Based on a type of learning where the learner practices what

they already know and what they can understand on their

own

• Motivation is key!!

More Key Points of Constructivism

• Learning takes time

• In this type of classroom you’ll see:

– Lots of group learning involving learning strategies and

are allowed time to ponder

– Great supply of resources to help reason understanding

and learning

– Teachers guiding students into the creation of new ideas

John Dewey

• Created a laboratory school

where students engaged in

hands-on learning

• Advocated learning through real

life experiences

• Believed that interaction and

experience were crucial to

education

Maria Montessori

• Advocated letting students

experienced an environment

up close and personal

• “Education…is acquired not

by listening to words but by

experiences upon the

environment”

David A. Kolb

• Wrote the books “Learning

Styles Inventory Technical

Manual” and “Experimental

Learning: Experience as the

Source of Learning and

Development”

• He created the Experiential

Learning Model and its 4 parts

with Ron Fry

Class Implication: Teacher

• The teacher needs to find different ways to start a

conversation or discussion in the classroom.

• The teacher needs to ask the right questions to get the

students to open their minds in order to develop their own

ideas about the topic.

• The teacher can’t directly answer questions about the topic,

they have to allow the students to think for themselves.

Class Implication: Student

• The student needs to be able to have a creative and

innovative thought process.

• The student must discover principles, facts, and

concepts for themselves.

• The student needs to answer their own questions,

influence by his or her background/culture/worldview.

Our ThoughtsConstructivism is an important theory to incorporate into any classroom,

but it should not be the only theory implemented as it can be a difficult

theory to maintain. Students are encouraged to think for themselves in

order to learn new concepts instead of just being bombarded by

information. A way to use constructivism in the classroom is through the

use of group assignments where students are asked to really analyze

information given and build upon it on their own. It’s very important to

be interactive, letting the students come up with the conclusions on their

own. Though it’s important to let students learn on their own, it’s

important as teachers to provide students with enough information to

build their knowledge.

Credits

• Teachers Discovering Computers Integrating Technology in a

Connected World by Shelly, Gunter, and Gunter: pg. 266-272

• http://www.exploratorium.edu/IFI/resources/constructivistlearni

ng.html

• http://www.msu.edu/~kalinkat/professionalpages/TechMatrixMa

terials/ConstructivismSummary.htm

• http://saskschoolboards.ca/research/instruction/97-07.htm#The%

20Constructivist%20Classroom

• http://img.scoop.it/xhpFvvJUVEEr5vnpo3p8sDl72eJkfbmt4t8ye

nImKBVaiQDB_Rd1H6kmuBWtceBJ

• http://www.infed.org/biblio/b-explrn.htm

• http://www.infed.org/thinkers/et-dewey.htm

• http://www.infed.org/thinkers.et-mont.htm