constructivism
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Constructivism
By: Michelle C.
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What Is It? Key Figures Use in the Classroom Practical Applications In My Classroom
What Is It?
A theory that states students learn by doing Theorists believe children are intrinsically motivated
to learn Requires active student participation Students will form/construct their own
understanding
What Is It?
Learners base new information on past knowledge Students learn through many different activities Involves higher order thinking skills Employs collaborative learning
Key Figures
4 main theorists: Jean Piaget, Jerome Bruner, Lev Vygotsky, and John Dewey
Piaget is the most influential figure All believed that learning requires active learner
participation
Jean Piaget
Swiss psychologist Children learn by seeking to find meaning in the
world around them Students learn by building off what they already
know Construct new meaning based on prior knowledge Proposed 4 stages children pass through:
Sensorimotor, Preoperational, Concrete Operational, and Formal Operational
Jean Piaget
Sensorimotor (birth-2 years): Learning through senses and motor actions
Preoperational (2-6 years): Begin to use symbols and images
Concrete Operational (7-11 years): Logical thinking begins; learning through facts
Formal Operational (12-adulthood): Concrete thinking to acstract thinking
Jerome Bruner
American Psychologist Believed learning is constructed based on past
knowledge Technology is key in offering proper learning
environment Employed Socratic method for student analysis of
problems
Lev Vygotsky
Russian educational psychologist Added ideas of social cognition to Constructivism Social cognition is learning influenced by social
development Zone of proximal development: potential a child can
achieve with assistance Emphasized collaborative learning
John Dewey
American educational psychologist and philosopher Learning should engage and expand the experience
of learners Believed education was a social process Students should play an active role in school
Use in the Classroom
Teachers/instructors must become “facilitators” Facilitators allow students to work through new
material Allow for students to construct their own
understanding Learner plays an active role in their education
Use in the Classroom
Facilitators encourage conversations/discussions instead of teacher lecture
Help students with zone of proximal development Encourage collaborative learning
Practical Applications In My Classroom
Important to create an atmosphere with hands-on activities
Provide multiple methods of presenting material Use technology as a strategy to assist constructivist
learning Create an emotional connection with material for
students
Practical Applications In My Classroom
Allow students to come to answers on their own True understanding is when students can do
something without assistance Become a facilitator and not just a teacher
