CONSTRUCTIVISM “I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.”~Confucius By: W.H.

Definition: Constructivism is based on a type of learning in which the learner forms, or constructs, much of what he or she learns or comprehends.

Key theorists: There are 4 key theorists that specialized in constructivism: John Piaget Jerome Bruner Lev Vygotsky John Dewey

John Piaget (1896-1980) Psychologist who developed the cognitive learning theory. Believed children were active learners and did not need motivation from adults to learn Defined 4 cognitive stages of development: Sensorimotor-learning primarily through senses Preoperational-using symbols and images Concrete operational-logical thinking Formal operational-more abstract thinking

Jerome bruner(1915) American psychologist and educator. Proposed learning based on the person’s current or past knowledge Believes learners are actively engaged in the learning process by participating. His theory provides a framework for instruction based on the study of cognition. Cognition suggests that an individual progresses through intellectual stages.

Lev vygotsky ( 1896-1934) A Russian educational psychologist He developed what is known as SOCIAL COGNITION He differed from the rest in that he believed learning was significantly influenced by social interaction. Zone of proximal development-how much a child can learn on his/her own compared to how much they can learn with the help of a more advanced peer or teacher.

John dewey (1859-1952) Educational psychologist, philosopher, and political activist who advocated child- centered instruction

How constructivism is used in the classroom BY THE TEACHER: Student is the center of learning “A constructivist teacher is able to flexibly and creatively incorporate ongoing experiences in the classroom into the negotiation and construction of lessons with small groups and individuals. The environment is democratic, the activites are interactive and the students are empowered by a teacher who operates as a facilitator/consultant.”

How constructivism is used in the classroom cont. BY THE STUDENT: Students participate in hands-on activities Group work Use the teacher as a scaffold to help in learning.

For my own teaching… I would use constructivist teaching in my classroom. I completely agree that students should be the center of learning. We as teachers have already gained our knowledge, and it is up to us to pass that on to the students. Group work and hands-on activities allow the students to socialize and use each other as help in learning new things. It’s a great theory to utilize.

Credits… Textbook- Integrating Technology and Digital Media in the Classroom. Pictures- Clip Art Websites- http://www.learning- theories.com/constructivism.html http://saskschoolboards.ca/research/instruc tion/97- 07.htm#The%20Constructivist%20Classroom