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Building Knowledge Building Knowledge Through ExperienceThrough Experience
Tarali SpongMichelle Penrod
Nicole Sirbu
Constructivism:Constructivism:
Summary of the TheorySummary 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 TheorySummary 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, Reflecting on our experiences, we construct our own we construct our own
understanding of the world we understanding of the world we live in.live in.
The History of The History of ConstructivismConstructivism
The Main MenThe 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 TheoristsOther 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 How Constructivism Impacts LearningImpacts 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 How Constructivism Impacts Learning cont.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 How Constructivism Impacts Learning cont.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 (self-assessment)
Comparison to Traditional Comparison to Traditional Classroom LearningClassroom 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/index_sub1.html
BEHAVIORIST CONSTRUCTIVISTBasic 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
A Classroom Comparison
The Downfalls of The Downfalls of ConstructivismConstructivism
• 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 MathInvestigations Math
The goal of the Investigations program is to have children thrive in their exploration of math and enjoy mathematics in the process.
Montessori SchoolsMontessori 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.
WebliographyWebliography
• http://www.funderstanding.com/constructivism.cfm• http://www.nwlink.com/~donclark/hrd/history/constructivi
sm.html• http://www.thirteen.org/edonline/concept2class/month2/
index_sub1.html• http://college.hmco.com/education/snowman/
psych_app/10e/instructors/course/ppt/2• http://carbon.cudenver.edu/~mryder/itc_data/
constructivism.html • http://expert.cc.purdue.edu/~yangyc/index/theory/
basic/basic_constructivism.html• http://web.cocc.edu/cbuell/theories/constructivism.htm