Introduction to Constructivism

Video Transcription

Hi, my name is Ashley. And today's lesson is titled introduction to constructivism.

In today's lesson, we will define the constructivism theory. We'll look at the process of learning according to the theory. We'll also look at some reasons why the constructivism theory should be implemented in your classroom. And how is constructivism different from traditional learning? Lastly, we will look at the best practices for when implementing the constructivism theory.

What is constructivism? Constructivism is a theory that states that learning is an active constructive process. In other words, people create their own knowledge through the use of prior knowledge and experiences. The learner takes what they already know and transforms it as a result of new learning. Cognitive structure provides meaning and organization to experiences, and allows individuals to go beyond the information given.

Learning theorist Vygotsky also played a major role in constructivism. He focused on the role of social interactions, and how it affected children's cognitive development, with an emphasis on language as a learning tool. He also suggested that culture also helps develop children's cognitive development.

What is the process of learning according to constructivism? Well, first, let's look at Jerome Bruner, who is learning theorist, who stated a theory of instruction should address the following. First, the learner should have predisposition toward learning. In other words, the learner should be optimistic to discover many new things through learning.

Next, the structure of information should be designed in a way that is understood by the learner. The information should also be presented in an effective sequential manner. Lastly, Bruner says to pace rewards and punishments. Good methods for structuring knowledge should result in simplifying, generating new propositions, and increasing the manipulation of information.

Now let's take a look at the process of learning according to constructivism. In constructivism, teachers should encourage students to discover concepts on their own. Active dialogue should be promoted among learners, allowing students to communicate with their peers.

With constructivism, the teacher should translate information to be learned to allow students to receive instruction at their current state of understanding. And lastly, when considering the process of learning according to constructivism, curriculum should be organized in a spiral manner so the student continually builds upon what they have already learned.

Why implement constructivism? Learning becomes more enjoyable and meaningful when students are actively involved in the learning process, instead of just passive learners. Constructivism focuses on the way of thinking and how the brain works, instead of just memorizing information. Constructivist learning can be applied to other settings and other subject areas, where students will be involved in active constructive learning.

Constructivism also involves the use of inquiry and student input. This is where we allow the students to come up with questions to further explore and use their resources to find answers to their questions. This not only motivates students to want to learn, but allows them to take responsibility and ownership of their learning. As a result, they are more likely to retain and transfer new information. Whenever we make learning more meaningful for students and show them how it can be related to other areas of their life, then they are more likely to remember that information and be able to connect it to new information that they will learn later on.

Lastly, constructivism encourages social and communication skills through the use of collaboration with peers. As you know, this is a skill that students must work on. Students can easily text their friends and communicate over the computer, but can they talk face-to-face and discuss academic subjects? Constructivism allows this communication to take place.

How is constructivism different from traditional learning? Constructivism is most often compared to the behaviorism theory. With constructivism, learning is based on prior knowledge. The teacher must provide learning experiences that allow students to identify their inconsistencies with information and replace it with accurate information.

With behaviorism, learning is shown through demonstration where the key components of learning are a stimulus and response. Maybe you remember Pavlov's experiment with the salivating dog and the ringing bell, where the dog learned to expect food when he heard the bell. So the learning was shown through demonstration.

With constructivism, students learned through real world authentic problems and social interaction. Learning occurs through memory with behaviorism. Students must be engaged with practice and reinforcement in order to maintain their readiness to respond. For example, a task must be performed over and over, again, in order for students to demonstrate the learned behavior, which may take some time.

With constructivism, reflection is a necessary component. Students should have opportunities to reflect on their new learning experiences. With behaviorism, transfer is the application of knowledge. Knowledge is transferred to new situations.

What are best practices when implementing the constructivism theory? Readiness is key. Instruction should focus on providing information on the student's current level of performance to ensure that the student is willing and able to learn. Spiral organization involves the structure of information. This structure allows information to easily be tracked by the student.

Information also must go beyond what is given. Instruction should be designed to facilitate extrapolation or to fill in the gaps. As we have said before, constructivism revolves around students interacting with one another and communication. Therefore, student collaboration is a key component in the K through 12 classrooms.

In today's lesson, we discussed that constructivism is a theory of learning that involves an active and constructive process. When considering the constructivism process of learning, we mentioned Bruner's four major aspects of a theory of instruction.

Some reasons why constructivism should be implemented in the classroom is that it allows learning to be more enjoyable and meaningful. And it focuses on collaboration among students, which fosters social and communication skills.

Constructivism is different from behaviorism in that it is based on prior knowledge and reflection. Constructivism is different from behaviorism in that it is based on prior knowledge, and reflection is a key component of learning.

When using constructivism in your classroom, some things to keep in mind is that instruction should be delivered according to the student's readiness. Instruction should be spirally organized so students can easily grasp the material. Instruction should go beyond what is needed. And as we have mentioned, social interaction should be embedded in instruction because it is a key component of the constructivism theory.

As we bring the lesson to a close, consider all the benefits associated with the constructivism theory, and how it can be helpful in the learning development of your students.

For more information on how to apply what you've learned in this video, please view the Additional Resources section that accompanies this video presentation. The Additional Resources section includes hyperlinks useful for applications of the course material, including a brief description of each resource.