Constructivism: Its Benefits, Its Costs, and What We Should Be

Doing.   

JAMAS Group Mini Report Group Roles: Adriana Diaz-Rocha: Cordinator

John Harp: Recorder Abdul Abaker: Elaborator

 Michelle Drolet: Explorer A Susan Cotter: Explorer B

  Audience:   Professional Development Workshop for Teachers

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Constructivism - Its Benefits• Teaching focuses on:

o problem solving o critical thinking o higher order cognitive outcomes.

• Instruction focuses on the holistic approach:o it draws on the whole person o integrates emotion, affect and engagement.

• Instruction emphasizes complex learning in a realistic setting that can potentially be more relevant to out of the classroom needs.

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Constructivism - Its Benefits..cont.• Constructivism and technology go hand in hand:

o it focuses on collaboration and engagement with real world problems.

• Meaningful understanding occurs when students develop effective ways to resolve complex problems.

• Constructivism is a close match to how people really learn:o through direct engagement with their worlds.

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1. Constructivism fosters the culture of learning community and2. It reduces the teachers burden: 

1.shifts learning responsibility to learners 3. Teachers intervene only to:

1.clarify a point 2.ascertain that students are on task

Constructivism - Its Benefits..cont.

Constructivism - Its Costs• Learners take on the role of the instructor:

o i.e. choosing the area to focus ono i.e. choosing an approach to solving a problem.

• Instructors must plan instruction that shifts energy and work into the learners hands.

• Instructors must maintain a sense of control in the classroom.

• Instructors must guide and direct without preempting student initiatives

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Constructivism - Its Costs…cont.

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• The shift toward constructivism learning is a major decision and commitment involving new learning for both students and instructors.

• There is the potential for misalignment with standards and objectives.

• The full learning accumulated from constructivism teaching methods can be hard to assess.

• Constructivism generally requires more careful design, performance monitoring and field testing compared to traditional approaches.

Constructivism – What We Should Be Doing?

• Teachers and Instructional Designers need to be aware of constructivism and use it where appropriate.

• With the advent of modern technologies in our classrooms  we need to incorporate this theory into student learning.

• We need to allow the students to transition from theory to real world practices and use constructivism theories to enhance collaboration, complex problem solving and learning.

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Constructivism: A Teaching Example

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Use of Constructivism in the classroom to help students: • research non-fiction text• collaborate among fellow students• present findings of research

Lesson plan from "In a World of Mandates, Making Space for Inquiry"

Constructivism A Teaching Example

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 Preparation - Students Involved: • Organize needed supplies (i.e. paper, scissors, glue and

non-fiction texts)• Provide room for students to create presentation ideas

(don't limit them to just space on their desks)• Request feedback from students as to areas of interest

(topics that interest them)• Secure additional non-fiction text from library

 

Constructivism A Teaching Example

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Beginning the Process: • Model presentation idea (preferably something

already being discussed in classroom)• Encourage students to contribute to presentation

with their own knowledge • Create an interactive poster (encourage students to

use sticky notes and blank areas on the presentation to write down their ideas)

Constructivism A Teaching Example

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Loss of Control - Take a Deep Breath: • Classroom will get loud! :-)

o Students sharing among themselves and discussing ideas

• Students will relish freedom from usual structure

• Allow them to learn in managed chaos!  

Constructivism A Teaching Example

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Be the "Guide on the Side"!!!!!!!!

Avoid guiding students to subjects... it may take time for them to find something they are

interested in. 

* Giving them a rubric to base their final results will provide the high expectations.

* Provide 2-3 examples to give them a starting point

 

Constructivism A Teaching Example

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Provide Support: • Internet help for Google searches if not enough

information is readily available in classroom• Encourage them to ask fellow classmates for

ideas and support o (collaboration is KEY!) 

• Give them website suggestions• Provide warnings and tips on avoiding

plagiarism. 

Constructivism A Teaching Example

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Presentation Time: • Not all presentations will be done at same time!• Allow students to present to small groups• Encourage students to comment on each

others work (as modeled in initial example)• Stand back and let student "teach" the subject

(only correct if gross inaccuracies)  

Constructivism A Teaching Example

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Continued Learning: • Post presentations around classroom• Encourage students to comment on other

presentations• Allow students to question presenters regarding

topics

Constructivism A Teaching Example

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Provide Support (Cont):

• Ask them information regarding their research to help them formulate their own ideaso Ask them questions to clarify their research (Tell me what

you are researching.  Why did you pick this topic?)o Don't provide your ideas or correct them!o Encourage them to continue research on their own or as

part of the group!

 

References

Guccione, L.M. (2011).  In a world of mandates, making space for inquiry.  Reading Teacher, 64(7), 515-519. doi:10.1598/RT.64.7.5 Reiser, Robert A. and Dempsey, John V. - Editors. (2012).           Trends and Issues in Instructional Design and Technology         (3rd Edition). Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.