Team 2 - Module 13
- 1. By Shelby H Photo from thelandscapeoflearning.com
- 2. KEY PEOPLE ASSOCIATED WITH CONSTRUCTIVISM Jean Piaget (1896-1980) • Developed the cognitive learning theory through observation of children. Jerome Bruner (1915-Present) • Constructivist learners learn by participation and being actively engaged. Lev Vygotsky (1896-1934) • Developed social cognition. John Dewey (1859-1952) • Advocate for child-centered instruction. Jean Piaget By Lindsey P Photo from childpsych.umwblogs.org
- 3. KEY POINTS OF CONSTRUCTIVISM • Learning is an active process; knowledge is constructed • Emphasis on ways that people create meaning of the world through a series of individual constructs • theory of knowledge with roots in philosophy, psychology, and cybernetics” – Von Glaserfeld • Learning process which allows a student to experience an environment first-hand, thereby, giving the student reliable, trust- worthy knowledge. By Bethany M Photo from thirteen.org
- 4. KEY POINTS OF CONSTRUCTIVISM • People construct their own understanding and knowledge of the world through experiencing things and reflecting on those experiences • Students learn by doing By Bethany M Photo from instructionaldesign.org
- 5. TEACHERS AND CONSTRUCTIVISM Fundamental Purpose • Teacher encourages students’ to build on previous knowledge by self- discovery. • They act as facilitators of learning by creating a nurturing educational environment and guiding the learning process for students. What Critics Are Saying • Students’ cannot properly identify what it is they should be learning. • Counter – Teachers carefully moderate students’ learning and the level of their prior knowledge. • Teachers cannot cover enough material of students’ direct their educational. • Counter – Well trained facilitators can plan and organize problem-solving learning ( that targets a student’s prior knowledge) to teach the subject material fully. By Jaquelyne F Information from learning-theories.com
- 6. TEACHERS AND CONSTRUCTIVISM How Teachers Implement Theory in Learning Process In General With Technology • Create assignments that allow • Encourage communication students to use their prior between students and knowledge and experiences to teachers through email and problem solve. message boards. • Allow students to explore a • Encourage use software to broad topic on their own and help students learn problem elaborate their learning in the solving and creative design. process. • Teachers should provide an • Create activities and projects environment where students that cater to students of can use technology in their varying learning styles (I.E. learning if they find it auditory, visual, and physical). stimulating and helpful. By Jaquelyne F Information from ndt-ed.org
- 7. STUDENTS AND CONSTRUCTIVISM What do the students do under Constructivism? • The student is put at the center of the educational stage. • Constructivism means that knowledge can’t be handed down from person to person (like taught by a teacher to a student) but instead it is constructed by each learner through interpreting and reinterpreting a constant flow of information. • Students are constantly challenging their own assumptions. By Alana K Photo by istockphoto
- 8. IMPLEMENTING CONSTRUCTIVISM So…how will I teach it? • Because of standardize testing, it is sometimes hard to implement more progressive styles of teaching. Several classrooms are built to ‘teach the test’ for students as opposed to teaching for the sake of gaining knowledge. • Therefore, I would try to incorporate constructivism styles into the common core curriculum of most public schools by: • Assessing students’ prior knowledge in order to individualize the curriculum. • Teaching core subject areas (math, science and literature) through problem solving and critical thinking methods that allow the student to come to a conclusion on their own. • Allowing students to choose their own project and writing topics while also teaching them about the fundamentals of writing. By Jaquelyne F