1. Constructivism
Piaget and Vygotsky

2. Constructivism is a theory -- based on observation and scientific study -- about how people learn. It says that people construct their own understanding and knowledge of the world, through experiencing things and reflecting on those experiences.
“Constructivism is also often misconstrued as a learning theory that compels students to "reinvent the wheel." In fact, constructivism taps into and triggers the student's innate curiosity about the world and how things work. Students do not reinvent the wheel but, rather, attempt to understand how it turns, how it functions” (2004).

3. Key Elements Create own knowledge
Learners ask questions and explore what they know
Teachers support students as they construct their knowledge
Active techniques such as experiments and real world problem solving
Students learn how to learn and reflect on their own experiences

4. Piaget is a constructivist
Piaget is a constructivist. His theory is known as “cognitive constructivism”.  He believes that there are four stages of cognitive development that every child goes through, beginning at birth through adulthood. He also believes that children learn on their own through self exploration.
Jean Piaget

5. Piaget - Key Elements of Learning Theory
Children learn through hands on activities, they repeat these activities until it is learned
Four stages of development:
Sensorimotor: birth to 2 years (with multiple substages from 0 months - 24 months) - info received through senses.
Pre-Operational: 2-7 years - children are egocentric and struggle with concept of conservation
Concrete Operational: struggle with concepts that can not be manipulated, conservation improves
Formal Operational: 11- adult - able to think outside the box
From ages 3-6, logic does not exist
A child is a product of his environment and will act on it.
The interaction between social and physical is imperative in cognitive learning
Thought drives language
Development comes before learning
Defines children as “lone scientists”
Schema - a framework that helps one organize and interpret information

6. Vygotsky is also a constructivist
Vygotsky is also a constructivist. He is known as a "social constructivist". Vygotsky does not assess the development of children as they pass through stages. He believes children learn by communicating with adults who should responsibly teach them how to get by in the world. He believes that adults are responsible for the development of children through interacting with them in their Zone of Proximal Development.
Lev Vygotsky

7. Vygotsky - Key Elements of Learning Theory
Children learn through social interaction
Learning is a life-long process
Believes that adults are the teacher
Believes that children learn from interacting in conversation with adults.
Language drives thought
Development and learning work together through social interaction
Zone of Proximal Development - distance between what a learner can do by himself and with help from others
Scaffolding - support given during the learning process
*No stages of development

8. Vygotsky
vs.
Piaget

10. Using Constructivist Methods
Actual LEsson
Using Constructivist Methods

11. English/ Language Arts Sixth Grade PreAp, On-Level, CoTeach
Area of discipline
English/ Language Arts
Sixth Grade
PreAp, On-Level, CoTeach

12. Objective
In this Problem Based Learning Lesson, the student will work in a group to create a campaign to inspire their peers to become summer readers.

13. Specific Content and Competencies
ELA TEKS 6.28
Students work productively with others in teams. Students are expected to participate in student led discussion by eliciting and considering suggestions from other group members and by identifying points of agreement and disagreement.

14. The Goal
In this PBL, the student will work in a group of four and will research problems based on the lack of reading during the summer break. After which the group will come up with a campaign through a pretend advertising agency to encourage summer reading.

15. The Constructivist Aspect
Students will use schema to come up with ideas that are appropriate for their age group.
Students will use schema to simulate a company
Students will use the group to acquire new ideas and balance a presentation in which their different schema produces a positive campaign regarding summer reading.

16. References
Constructivism as a paradigm for teaching and learning. (2004). Retrieved July 22, 2015, from Duffy, T. M. and D. J. Cunningham (1996). Constructivism: Implications for the design and delivery of instruction. Handbook of research for educational communications and technology. D. H. Jonassen, ed. New York, Macmillan. Ertmer, P. and T. J. Newby (1993). Behaviorism, cognitivism, constructivism: Comparing critical features from an instructional design perspective. Performance Improvement Quarterly, 6(4): Piaget & Vygotsky: A Comparison!. Retrieved July 22, 2015, from comparison (n.d.). Retrieved July 24, 2015, from (n.d.). Retrieved July 24, 2015, from Retrieved July 22, 2015, from Social constructivism. (2015). Retrieved July 22, 2015, from research/social-constructivism/