EED 313 - Teaching Science in the Elementary Grades

Carla Teope

BEED 3A

Assignment No. 1

1. Read about constructivism theory

2. Discuss what constructivism is

Constructivism is a gaining knowledge of principle that emphasizes the active

position of learners in establishing their very own expertise and understanding of the

world. Several distinguished proponents and contributors to constructivism include:

Jean Piaget: While Piaget's work is frequently associated with cognitivism, his theories

additionally have constructivist elements. He proposed that teens actively assemble their

expertise thru interactions with their environment and peers, which aligns with key

constructivist principles.

Lev Vygotsky: Vygotsky's sociocultural idea of cognitive improvement is closely related

to constructivism. He highlighted the position of social interactions, culture, and language

in shaping character learning. The notion of the Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) is

a central constructivist notion from his work.

Jerome Bruner: Bruner's work on discovery getting to know and the spiral curriculum

emphasizes the significance of lively exploration and problem-solving in learning. He

argued that novices construct expertise thru a series of increasingly more complex

interactions with content.

Seymour Papert: Papert is recognized for his work on constructivist learning

environments, specifically in the context of technology and programming. He developed

the Logo programming language as a device for teenagers to construct their personal

know-how of arithmetic and computer science.

John Dewey: Although Dewey's work predates the formal improvement of

constructivism as a theory, his thoughts align closely with constructivist principles. He

advocated for experiential learning, where students actively interact with real-world

troubles to assemble their understanding.

Howard Gardner: Gardner's principle of multiple intelligences suggests that individuals

have exceptional cognitive strengths and preferences. This notion helps the thinking that

learning need to be tailor-made to individual learners, allowing them to assemble

expertise in ways that align with their unique abilities.

Ernst von Glasersfeld: Known for his work on radical constructivism, von Glasersfeld

emphasised the subjectivity of information and the notion that persons assemble their

very own appreciation based totally on their experiences and interactions with the world.

David Ausubel: While notably related with cognitivism, Ausubel's assimilation concept

consists of factors of constructivism. He emphasized the significance of building on

learners' current know-how constructions to facilitate meaningful learning.

Lev Semenovich Vygotsky: Lev S. Vygotsky (not to be harassed with Lev Vygotsky

cited earlier) contributed to the field of constructivism with his emphasis on the social

and cultural factors of learning. His work enhances the sociocultural constructivist

perspective.

These proponents of constructivism have influenced the fields of education, psychology,

and academic graph by way of highlighting the magnitude of active, experiential, and

socially interactive learning in the technique of expertise construction.

Constructivism is a mastering concept and philosophical point of view that

emphasizes the lively function of learners in building their personal appreciation of the

world. It posits that people construct information through their experiences, interactions
with the environment, and social interactions. Here's a description and some context for

constructivism:

Active Learning: Constructivism views learners as lively individuals in the learning

process. It suggests that human beings analyze fine when they have interaction in hands-

on activities, explore concepts, and solve issues as an alternative than passively receiving

information.

Social Interaction: Social interplay is a indispensable component of constructivism.

Collaborative learning and discussions with peers and instructors are viewed as valuable

due to the fact they provide possibilities for learners to negotiate that means and construct

on each other's ideas.

Prior Knowledge: Constructivism recognizes the significance of learners' present

knowledge and beliefs. New statistics is built-in with or modified based totally on what

persons already know, growing a greater significant understanding.

Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD): This concept, added by Lev Vygotsky, is

closely associated with constructivism. It refers to the range of duties that a learner can

perform with the assist of a more knowledgeable person. Educators frequently goal to

scaffold education within a learner's ZPD to aid their growth.

Discovery Learning: Constructivist strategies frequently involve discovery learning, the

place beginners actively discover and test to make sense of concepts. This approach

contrasts with rote memorization and promotes deeper understanding.

Reflection: Reflection and metacognition (thinking about one's thinking) are vital to

constructivism. Learners are motivated to reflect on their experiences and thought tactics

to enhance their perception and problem-solving abilities.

Contextual Learning: Learning is viewed as context-dependent. Constructivist

approaches emphasize that know-how must be located inside meaningful contexts,

making it more applicable and relevant to real-life situations.

Individual Differences: Constructivism acknowledges that inexperienced persons have

special experiences, backgrounds, and cognitive structures. This standpoint supports

personalised and differentiated guidance to cater to person desires and preferences.

Critique of Behaviorism: Constructivism emerged partly as a response to behaviorism,

which centered on observable behaviors and external stimuli. Constructivists argued that

behaviorism didn't sufficiently account for the cognitive approaches involved in learning.

Application in Education: In education, constructivist concepts have influenced

curriculum design, instructional methods, and evaluation strategies. Educators regularly

try to create gaining knowledge of environments that foster energetic engagement,

imperative thinking, and problem-solving.

Technology Integration: Constructivism aligns well with technology-enhanced learning.

Interactive simulations, online discussions, and multimedia sources can supply

possibilities for active mastering and collaborative information construction.

Cultural and Social Context: Constructivism acknowledges that way of life and society

play essential roles in shaping an individual's expertise and beliefs. This point of view is

mainly relevant in multicultural and numerous getting to know environments.

In summary, constructivism emphasizes that studying is an active, dynamic manner that

takes place via meaningful experiences, interactions, and reflection. It has had a massive

have an impact on on education, psychology, and academic sketch through advertising

learner-centered tactics and a deeper perception of how humans gather and construct

knowledge.
3. Discuss or explain principles of Constructivism. Cite example of each principle.

Constructivism is a learning theory that emphasizes the role of active engagement,

social interaction, and personal experiences in the process of knowledge construction. It

suggests that learners create their understanding of the world based on their prior

knowledge and experiences. Constructivist principles are widely applied in education and

cognitive psychology to guide instructional strategies and curriculum design. Here are

some key principles of constructivism, along with examples of each:

1. Prior Knowledge and Schema Construction:

Learners build new knowledge by connecting it to their existing mental frameworks or

schemas. These schemas are organized structures of information that help individuals

interpret and understand new information. For instance, if a student is learning about

different animals, they might categorize animals into groups based on common

characteristics, such as mammals, reptiles, and birds.

Example: When teaching a new concept like photosynthesis, a teacher can begin by

asking students about their understanding of plants and sunlight. By tapping into their

prior knowledge, the teacher can help students build a foundation for learning the new

topic.

2. Active Learning and Exploration:

Learning is most effective when learners actively engage with the subject matter and

explore concepts on their own. Active learning involves hands-on experiences, problem-

solving, and critical thinking.

Example: In a science class, students might be given materials to build simple electrical

circuits. Through trial and error, they learn about the components needed for a circuit to

work, and this experience helps them internalize the principles of electricity and circuitry.
3. Social Interaction and Collaboration:

Interaction with peers, teachers, and experts plays a crucial role in knowledge

construction. Collaborative activities enable learners to share perspectives, negotiate

meaning, and co-construct knowledge through discussions and interactions.

Example: Group projects, where students work together to research and present a topic,

foster collaborative learning. For instance, a group researching climate change can

collectively gather information, synthesize ideas, and present a comprehensive

understanding of the issue.

4. Authentic Contexts and Real-World Application:

Learning is more meaningful when it occurs in contexts that reflect real-life situations.

Authentic tasks and problems connect learning to practical applications, enhancing

motivation and engagement.

Example: Instead of solely learning mathematical concepts in isolation, students can be

presented with real-world problems that require mathematical reasoning. For instance,

calculating the cost of materials needed to build a garden bed helps students see the

relevance of their mathematical skills.

5. Reflection and Metacognition:

Encouraging learners to reflect on their learning process and think about their thinking

(metacognition) helps them become aware of their cognitive strategies and adapt their

learning methods accordingly.

Example: After completing a project or assignment, students can be asked to write a

reflection on what they learned, what challenges they faced, and how they overcame

them. This practice encourages self-awareness and self-regulation.

In summary, constructivism underscores the idea that learners actively build their

understanding of the world by connecting new information to their existing knowledge

and experiences. By engaging in hands-on activities, collaborating with others, and

reflecting on their learning, individuals develop deeper and more meaningful

understandings of the subjects they are studying.