2+Constructivism

Constructivism is a learning theory based on the idea that each individual learner constructs his or her own knowledge. There are two dynamic principles which follow from this point of view: -> Education needs to focus on the learner. -> There is no such thing as knowledge, as an entity, apart from the constructed experiences of learners or communities of learners.

Principles of Constructivism:

Active Learning

Learning is an active process in which the learner constructs meaning from sensory input. Traditionally this idea is formulated by stressing that the learner needs to do something. Learning is not the passive acceptance of pre-existing knowledge, but rather it requires the learners to engage in some way with the world.

Metacognition

People learn to learn by constructing meaning and constructing their own systems of meaning. This process is primarily a mental one. Doing is not a substitute for thinking. Meaningful learning takes time and reflection. Profound thought results from long periods of preparation.

Contextual Learning

We do not learn isolated facts and theories in abstraction -- separate from the rest of our lives. Everything we learn is in relationship to the other things we know and believe. It follows from this that language and learning are inextricably intertwined.

Collaborative Learning

Learning is intimately associated with our connections to other human beings. We are more likely to be successful in our efforts to educate if we recognize this principle rather than try to avoid it. Traditional education is based on a one-on-one relationship between the learner and the material to be learned. In contrast, constructivism recognizes the social aspects of learning: conversation, interaction, and the application of knowledge.

Learner Centered The more we know, the more we can learn. Teaching involves connecting to the learner by providing a path to his/her previous knowledge. Motivation is a key component in learning. Motivation, as described here, is the internal motivation to understanding ones environment and the way knowledge is used. Even the most severe direct teaching can not compare with an actual desire to “know the reasons why…”.

Spiral Curriculum

Each meaning we construct makes us better able to give meaning to other sensations which fit into a similar pattern. A body of knowledge should be structured so that it can be most readily grasped by the learner. The most effective sequence in which to present material is in a spiral manner so that the student continually builds upon what he/she has already learned.

Authentic Assessment

The way in which you plan to evaluate learning should be based on your learning theory. Because constructivism is based on the student’s experience, assessment and evaluation should be based on student work which was generated in the context of the learning. Sometimes this is referred to as portfolio assessment.

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