CONSTRUCTIVISM THEORY

Main Theorists- John Dewey (1933/1998) is often cited as the philosophical

founder of this approach. Bruner (1990) and Piaget (1972) are considered the
chief theorists among the cognitive constructivists, while Vygotsky (1978) is the
major theorist among the social constructivists

- Constructivism is ‘an approach to learning that holds that people actively

construct or make their own knowledge and that reality is determined by
the experiences of the learner’ (Elliott et al., 2000:256).
- posits that knowledge can only exist within the human mind, and that it
does not have to match any real world reality (Driscoll, 2000) . Learners will
be constantly trying to develop their own individual mental model of the
real world from their perceptions of that world.
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Who is the father of constructivism theory?

- Jean Piaget

Piaget is widely recognized as the founding father of Constructivism with his

notion that learning is individually constructed however others such as Vygotsky
have play a key role in making this student-centred and active learning theory
influencial today.

Piaget's theory of constructivism argues that people produce knowledge and

form meaning based upon their experiences. Piaget's theory covered learning
theories, teaching methods, and education reform. Two of the key components
which create the construction of an individual's new knowledge are
accommodation and assimilation.

Assimilating causes an individual to incorporate new experiences into the old

experiences. This causes the individual to develop new outlooks, rethink what
were once misunderstandings, and evaluate what is important, ultimately altering
their perceptions.
Accommodation, on the other hand, is reframing the world and new experiences
into the mental capacity already present. Individuals conceive a particular fashion
in which the world operates. When things do not operate within that context,
they must accommodate and reframing the expectations with the outcomes.

Dewey believed that human beings learn through a 'hands-on' approach. This
places Dewey in the educational philosophy of pragmatism. Pragmatists believe
that reality must be experienced. From Dewey's educational point of view, this
means that students must interact with their environment in order to adapt and
learn.

What is an example of constructivism?

Example: An elementary school teacher presents a class problem to measure the

length of the "May flower." Rather than starting the problem by introducing the
ruler, the teacher allows students to reflect and to construct their own methods
of measurement.

Some strategies for teacher include having students working together and aiding
to answer one another's questions. Another strategy includes designating one
student as the "expert" on a subject and having them teach the class. Finally,
allowing students to work in groups or pairs and research controversial topics
which they must then present to the class.

Why is constructivist theory important?

Constructivism is a learning theory that emphasizes student agency through self-

guided exploration, reflection, and evaluation. Benefits to constructivist design:
It's active. ... It encourages students to reflect, evaluate their work, and identify
intermediary skills to acquire based on their needs.

Constructivism Learning Theory

Constructivism learning theory is a philosophy which enhances students' logical

and conceptual growth. The underlying concept within the constructivism
learning theory is the role which experiences-or connections with the adjoining
atmosphere-play in student education.
The constructivism learning theory argues that people produce knowledge and
form meaning based upon their experiences. Two of the key concepts within the
constructivism learning theory which create the construction of an individual's
new knowledge are accommodation and assimilation. Assimilating causes an
individual to incorporate new experiences into the old experiences. This causes
the individual to develop new outlooks, rethink what were once
misunderstandings, and evaluate what is important, ultimately altering their
perceptions. Accommodation, on the other hand, is reframing the world and new
experiences into the mental capacity already present. Individuals conceive a
particular fashion in which the world operates. When things do not operate
within that context, they must accommodate and reframing the expectations with
the outcomes.

The role of teachers is very important within the constructivism learning theory.
Instead of giving a lecture the teachers in this theory function as facilitators
whose role is to aid the student when it comes to their own understanding. This
takes away focus from the teacher and lecture and puts it upon the student and
their learning. The resources and lesson plans that must be initiated for this
learning theory take a very different approach toward traditional learning as well.
Instead of telling, the teacher must begin asking. Instead of answering questions
that only align with their curriculum, the facilitator in this case must make it so
that the student comes to the conclusions on their own instead of being told.
Also, teachers are continually in conversation with the students, creating the
learning experience that is open to new directions depending upon the needs of
the student as the learning progresses. Teachers following Piaget's theory of
constructivism must challenge the student by making them effective critical
thinkers and not being merely a "teacher" but also a mentor, a consultant, and a
coach.

Instead of having the students relying on someone else's information and

accepting it as truth, the constructivism learning theory supports that students
should be exposed to data, primary sources, and the ability to interact with other
students so that they can learn from the incorporation of their experiences. The
classroom experience should be an invitation for a myriad of different
backgrounds and the learning experience which allows the different backgrounds
to come together and observe and analyze information and ideas.

The constructivism learning theory will allow children to, at an early age or a late
age, develop the skills and confidence to analyze the world around them, create
solutions or support for developing issues, and then justify their words and
actions, while encouraging those around them to do the same and respecting the
differences in opinions for the contributions that they can make to the whole of
the situation. Classroom applications of constructivism support the philosophy of
learning which build a students' and teachers' understanding.