Constructivist Approach to Teaching and Learning

1. CONSTRUCTIVISTAPPROACH TO TEACHING AND LEARNING Created By Christy F.

2. Constructivist Approach to Teaching and Learning Overview of Constructivism Theorists
supporting Constructivism How Constructivism is Applied in the Classroom My Constructivist
Classroom
3. The theory of constructivism is an Overview of Constructivism approach to learning
suggesting that children must construct their own understandings of the world in which they In
comparison to live. behaviorism, the learner is not a blank slate (tabula rasa), but instead brings
past experiences and cultural factors to a situation and new information is constructed from prior
Next knowledge.
4. Learners construct their own Overview of Constructivism understanding and knowledge of
the world through experiencing things and reflecting Learning is an active, on those experiences.
contextualized process of constructing knowledge rather than acquiring Information must be
mentally acted it. on, manipulated, and transformed by learners in order to have meaning.
5. Theorists SupportingConstructivism Jean Piaget (1896-1980): Stages of Cognitive
Development John Dewey (1859-1952): Progressive Education Lev Vygotsky (1896-1934):
Social Development Theory Jerome Bruner (1915 -) Discovery Learning Theory
6. Piagets Theory of Cognitive Development Piaget proposed that cognitive development
followed an invariant sequence from infancy through adolescence. His particular insight was the
role of maturation in children increasing capacity to understand their world: they cannot
undertake certain tasks until they are psychologically mature enough to do so.
7. Piagets Four Stages of CognitiveDevelopment Sensori-motor (Birth-2 yrs) Differentiates self
from objects Recognizes self as agent of action and begins to act intentionally: e.g. pulls a string
to set mobile in motion or shakes a rattle to make a noise. Achieves object permanence: realizes
that things continue to exist even when no longer present or seen. Pre-operational (2-7 years)
Learns to use language and to represent objects by images and words. Thinking is still
egocentric: has difficulty taking the viewpoint of others. Classifies objects by a single feature:
e.g. groups together all the red blocks regardless of shape or all the square blocks regardless of
color.
8. Concrete operational Piagets Four Stages of Cognitive Development (7-11 years) Can think
logically about objects and events. Achieves conservation of number (age 6), mass (age 7), and
weight (age 9). Classifies objects according to several features and can order them in series along
a single dimension Formal operational such as size. (11 years and up) Can think logically about
abstract propositions and test hypotheses systematically. Becomes concerned with the
hypothetical, the future, and ideological problems.
9. How Constructivism is Applied in the Classroom Teachers should have lessons where handson experimentation, problem solving, logical reasoning, and authentic learning are emphasized.
Teachers should generally behave in an interactive manner mediating the environment for
students where student questions are highly valued.
10. How Constructivism is Applied in the Classroom Teachers should seek the students point of
view in order to understand student learning for use in subsequent lessons. Assessment of
student learning should be interwoven with teaching and occur through teacher observation of
students at work and through presentations and portfolios.
11. My Constructivist Classroom In order to follow the principles behind constructive cognitive
development I will incorporate the following strategies in my classroom: Provide scaffolding to
extend students Zone of Proximal Development Involved students in activities which engage
the mind as well as the hands.
12. My Constructivist Classroom Continued: Have students work in groups often initiate group
discussions and debates allowing students to share their own thoughts and opinions.
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