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