THEORY OF By

Mrs. Anisha B
CONSTRUCTIVISM Assistant Professor of Mathematics
 INTRODUCTION
Constructivism – Meaning and Definition
Nature of Constructivist learners
The nature of learning process
Collaboration among learners
Pedagogical approaches to constructivism
 Theory Of Constructivism

Learning construct their learning by observing, experiencing things and events and
by thinking about objects and events in their minds

Every person constructs knowledge in his mind

Jean Piaget in his schema theory of learning states that an individual learns by
accommodation and schema

Jean Piaget was the first proponent of constructivism in learning

 Meaning Of Constructivism

Every learners constructs his knowledge by making his previous knowledge as the
foundation for constructing a new knowledge by linking it with his previous
knowledge about a particular subject matter.

This process of assimilation and integration of new information with one’s own
already existing knowledge is called learning or construct knowledge construction
Definition Of Constructivism

Jean Piaget

“All types of knowledge about an object or an event are made by the learner’s activity
such as assimilating and planning for constructing his new knowledge from simple to
complex linking it with the previous knowledge”
 Bruner

“Constructivism as the process in which the learner links his previous knowledge
with the new knowledge and by this construction he makes new concepts”
 Herbert
“Constructivism is defined as the knowledge construction done by the learner as the
assimilation of his previous knowledge”.
Nature Of Constructivist Learners

i. A constructivist learner by creating life situations from his environment

ii. Solves problem by approaching the problem from his practical life experiences
iii. Analyses the problem situation and creates a strategy to solve the problem
iv. Evaluates his academic goal achievement by self-analysis
v. Considers learning as the innate knowledge construction
vi. Learns by thinking reflectively
vii. Feel that his learning in under his control learns
Nature Of Constructivist Learners

viii. Learns by linking his previous knowledge with his knowledge

ix. Rectifies his defects in his learning by analysing his learning
x. Always aware of his learning goals
xi. Knows the importance of social background for the learning
xii. Takes responsibilities and accountability for his learning
xiii. Aware of the fact that his learning will develop by the background of social
interaction and co-operation
xiv. Considers the fact that the process of constructivism should include his belief,
attitudes and his previous knowledge
Role Of Teachers In Constructivism

a. The teacher while teaching a subject matter in the classroom should make
different concepts about the subject matter and should create various perspectives
about the subject matter so that his student can construct their learning.

b. The teacher creates the teaching goals by interacting with his students.

c. The teacher is a guide, supervisor, trainer, facilitator and lecturer of the subject
matter in the constructivist classroom.
 Role Of Teachers In Constructivism
d. Teaches his students by creating an awareness among them about higher order
learning, self analysis, self control and reflective thinking
e. Makes a student- centre teaching in the classroom and acts as a facilitator of
learning
f. Teaches his students by solving problems from the practical life situations of the
students.
g. The teacher interacts his students by solving problems from the practical life
situations of the students
h. Interacts with his students and creates learning activities for their interactions in
collaboration with them in the classroom.
Role Of Teachers In Constructivism

i. Identifies the previous knowledge of his students in the subject matter .

j. Acts as a facilitator in his students higher order cognitive learning such as
problem solving, reflective thinking etc. in the classroom
k. Creates a learning situation in the classroom for his students to explore their
learning goals and makes them do knowledge construction
l. Stresses the fact that learning is integrated with evaluation and teaches to his
students
 The Nature Of Constructivist Learning Process

 The constructivist learning is a continuous process.

Constructivist learning process is a cycle and it is an evaluation –centred learning
process.
Diagrammatic representation of the Constructivist learning process as follows
 Nature of Constructivist Learning Process

Participatory
learning

Extensive Exploring
learning Evaluation

Explaining
i. Participatory Learning:
The learner participates in his learning activities with full
involvement and along with learning the learner evaluates himself his learning.

ii. Exploring the Subject Matter

The learner studies the subject matter as if he is doing research on it.
He searches for the topics and the learning activities for learning the topics choosen
by him.
iii. Getting Explanation:
The constructivist learner gets the explanation for his subject matter explored by
teacher or from his social interaction with others, and evaluates.

iv. Extensive Learning:

The constructivist learner gets explanation from his teacher or from social
interactions and develops it by involving in his learning.
The Nature Of Constructive Learning Process

i. Learner actively involves in his learning

ii. Create self experience among the learners
iii. Constructivist learning process is the personal experience of learner in his learning world
iv. Based on problem – solving approach to learning
v. Develops the constructivism of the learner by his self evaluation and self experience
vi. Learner learns fully
vii. Insists on collaborative learning
The Nature Of Constructive Learning Process

viii. Involves in learning the subject matter that is related to his social background
ix. Based on learner’s learning goals and his self evaluation about his learning
x. Enables the learner to control his learning
xi. Makes the learner accountable to his learning
xii. Enables the learner to learn according to his learning style.
Pedagogical Approaches In Constructivism

 Creating constructivist learning

Making students imbibe the concepts
Constructing a curriculum for constructivism
Learning by creating things and by the heuristic method
Encouraging learning by reflection and critical thinking
Making student centred teaching
Encouraging self evaluation
Adopting collaborative learning approach
Developing creative thinking
 learning is the process of connecting what we learn now, with what we already
know

Content of the lesson should be presented in such a way that they are related to the
day to day life of students

The teacher besides making students to learn the subject content meaningfully.
 Guiding Principles Of Pedagogical
Approach In Constructivism
1.Sowing the seed for learning by creating a problem for learning

The teacher proposes a problem in the life situation of the students for their
constructivist learning . The problem is simple and slightly different one, so they can link with
their previous knowledge to solve it. They are also able to think reflectively to form concepts
about the subject matter . Thus the principle sows the seed for learning
 2. Guiding Students To Form Important
Concepts

The teacher explains and presents concepts about the subject and suggestion to make

constructivism to the students in the classroom. This principles guides the student to

construct their learning

3. Exploring The Perspectives Of
Students
The teacher studies the different perspectives and opinions of the students
about the subject matter. Because the teacher can guide his students to think about the
cause and effect of a particular problem. The teacher is also able to find the
understanding of the students about the subject matter and make meanings to the
thinking of the students.
 4. Designing The Curriculum
Suitable To The Students
Teacher modifies the curriculum to suit the beliefs and assumption of his
students

Teacher design the collaborative learning activities and group co-operative

learning activities in the classroom for developing constructivism in the
classroom.
 Teaching Strategies
Bruner proposed the following teaching strategies
i. Teacher first motivate the students for the constructivism in the classroom
ii. Encourages them to explore the concepts of the subject matter
iii. After the classroom activities the teacher explains the subject matter and guides
them to self evaluate their learning.
iv. Using heuristic method for the constructivist learning
v. Explain the subject matter based on the information from the students
vi. Guides them to do their learning activities