Definition:

 

Constructivism: View that emphasizes the active role of the learner in building understanding and making sense of information(woolfolk,2008).  It is taking what you have already learned and building on it.  "If what learners encounter is inconsistent with their current understanding, their understanding can change to accommodate new experience."(http://www.sedl.org/pubs/sedletter/v09n03/practice.html) 

There are two forms of constructionism: Psychological and Social Constructivism  

 

Psychological Constructivism (Piaget)

 

Psychological constructivist is concerned with how individuals build up certain elements of their cognitive or emotional apparatus. Constructivists are more interested in individual knowledge, beliefs, self-concepts, or identity( sometimes called individual constructivists or cognitive constructivists). One of the theorist (Piaget) is less concerned with " correct" representations. He is more interested in the meaning as constructed by the individual.

 

First Wave Constructivism: Focus on the individual and psychological sources of knowing (woolfolk,2008,pg375)

Radical Constructivism: Knowledge is assumed to be the individual's construction; it can not be judged right or wrong(woolfolk,2008,pg375).

 

Social Constructivism(Vygotsky)

 

Social constructivism emphasizes the importance of culture and context in understanding what occurs in society and constructing knowledge based on this understanding. It is believed that social interaction, cultural tools, and activity shape individual development and learning.  A person could participate in board range of activities with other learners. This deals with appropriate ( internalize or take for themselves knowledge and skills developed in interactions with others or with cultural tools Woolfolk,2008,pg375) )  The nature of the learner's social interaction with knowledgeable members of the society is important. Without the social interaction with more knowledgeable others, it is impossible to acquire social meaning of important symbol systems and learn how to use them.( http://projects.coe.uga.edu/epltt/index.php?title=Social_Constructivism)

 

The role of a teacher is more of a guide in construtivism than a person who stands in the front of a class and lectures.

 

 

 

Storyboard:

 

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Constructivism is taking what you already know and building on it.  It is a the view that emphasizes the active role of the learner in building understanding and making sense of information. 

Image 2 When new information is obtained by a person, and is inconsistent with what he or she already knows, that information can be accomodated by a change in their understanding.  For ex.  A child who sees a wolf and thinks it is a dog because a wolf has similar features to that of a dog.  When the child is corrected and told, "no that is not a dog, it is a wolf", the child then makes room for this new information and creates a seperate category for "wolves" 

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There are two forms of constructionism: Psychological and Social construction  

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The first form: Psychological constructivism, is concerned with how individuals build up certain elements of their cognitive or emotional apparatus.

Psychological constructivists are more interested in individual knowledge, beliefs, self-concepts, or identity.

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Piaget, one of the theorists, is less concerned with "correct" representations and is more interested in the meaning as constructed by the individual.

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Piaget's type of constructivism is often referred to as first wave constructivism by some educational and developmental psychologists.(pg 375)

First Wave Constructivism is the focus on the individual and psychological sources of knowing (woolfolk,2008,pg375)

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At the extreme end of psycological constructivism is the notion of radical constructivism. (woolfolk,2008,pg375)

Radical Constructivism is knowledge that is assumed to be the individual's construction.  It cannot be judged right or wrong.

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The second form of constructivism, social constructivism, emphasizes the significance of culture and context in understanding what occurs in society, and constructing knowledge based on this awareness. 

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It is believed that social interaction, cultural tools, and activity shape the development and learning of an individual.

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The nature of the learner's social interaction with knowledgeable members of the society is important. Without the social interaction with others, it is impossible to acquire social meaning of important symbol systems and learn how to use them.

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For example:  A child will not learn how to speak if the child has no one to show him or her how to speak or how to pronounce words.

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With the constructivism theory, the role of the teacher is to act as a guide.  The teachers do not stand in the front of the class and lecture.  Constructivism has to do with less text and more social learning from others.   

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Teachers should put students into groups according to their level of learning, and then observe the students and their thoughts.

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The concept is, students learning from students. The teacher is just there to lead them in the right direction. 

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