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