Constructivism:

Building Knowledge
Through Experience
Tarali Spong
Michelle Penrod
Nicole Sirbu

Summary of the Theory

Learning is a search for meaning
Meaning requires understanding
wholes as well as parts
The purpose of learning is for an individual to
construct his or her own meaning, not just
memorize the "right" answers and regurgitate
someone else's meaning.

Summary of the Theory

Learners construct their own understanding and
knowledge of the world, through experiencing
things and reflecting on those experiences
Active creators of our own knowledge (adding
to or modifying existing schema)
Constructivist Buzzwords:
cooperative learning settings
student-centered classrooms
problem solving
inquiry-based

Reflecting on our experiences,

we construct our own
understanding of the world we
live in.

The History of
Constructivism

The Main Men

Socrates 469-399 BC: asked directed questions that
led students to realize for themselves the
weaknesses in their thinking, encouraged dialogue
Jean Piaget 1896-1980: knowledge is build on
experiences that creates schemas, ages and stages
of development (Cognitive Constructivism)
Lev Vygotsky 1896-1934: knowledge comes from
cultural and social influences and experiences with
peers, teachers, parents, etc. (Social
Constructivism)
Jerome Bruner 1915-present: learning is an active
process, new ideas based on current or previous
knowledge

Other Noteworthy Theorists

David Ausubel
Seymour Papert
John D. Bransford
Ernst von Glasersfeld
Eleanor Duckworth
George Forman
Roger Schank
Jacqueline Grennon Brooks
Martin G. Brooks

How Constructivism
Impacts Learning
Curriculum
calls for the elimination of a standardized
curriculum
promotes using curricula customized to
the students' prior knowledge
emphasizes hands-on problem solving

How Constructivism
Impacts Learning cont.
Instruction
focus on making connections between facts
and fostering new understanding in
students
tailor teaching strategies to student
responses and encourage students to
analyze, interpret, and predict information
rely heavily on open-ended questions and
promote extensive dialogue among students

How Constructivism
Impacts Learning cont.
Assessment
calls for the elimination of grades and
standardized testing
becomes part of the learning process so
that students play a larger role in
judging their own progress (selfassessment)

Comparison to Traditional
Classroom Learning
There are significant differences in
basic assumptions about knowledge,
students, and learning that exist
between traditional and
constructivist-based classrooms.
http://www.thirteen.org/edonline/concept2class/month2/ind
ex_sub1.html

A Classroom Comparison
BEHAVIORIST

CONSTRUCTIVIST

Basic skills

Big concepts

Fixed curriculum

Student driven curriculum

Textbooks, workbooks

Manipulatives, etc.

Repetition

Interactive, build on schema

Teacher directed

Student directed

Knowledge is inert

Knowledge is dynamic

Individual work

Cooperative learning

Traditional testing

Authentic, ongoing
assessment

The Downfalls of
Constructivism
Time Consuming for teacher and learner
Higher demands on learners
Difficult to create detailed lesson plan
because so much variation is possible
Not the only orientation to learning you
will ever need

Investigations Math
The goal of the Investigations
program is to have children
thrive in their exploration of
math and enjoy mathematics in
the process.

Montessori Schools
It is necessary for the teacher to guide the
child without letting him feel her presence
too much, so that she may always be
ready to supply the desired help, but may
never be the obstacle between the child
and his experience.

Webliography
http://www.funderstanding.com/constructivism.cfm
http://www.nwlink.com/~donclark/hrd/history/constructivis
m.html
http://www.thirteen.org/edonline/concept2class/month2/in
dex_sub1.html
http://college.hmco.com/education/snowman/psych_app/1
0e/instructors/course/ppt/2
http://carbon.cudenver.edu/~mryder/itc_data/constructivis
m.html
http://expert.cc.purdue.edu/~yangyc/index/theory/basic/ba
sic_constructivism.html
http://web.cocc.edu/cbuell/theories/constructivism.htm