Construct – to build; to make or form by combining or arranging parts or elements
Constructivism is a learning theory that focuses on allowing students to construct knowledge through active learning. Students learn through their own experiences and reflecting on those experiences. Students construct knowledge by connecting what they already know to what they are learning. The ideas of many educational theorists have given us the theory of constructivism as we know it today. Traditional learning focused on teachers lecturing and simply telling students information and expecting students to learn and understand what they had been taught. I don’t know about you, but I struggle to passively learn anything. Whether it is schoolwork, a new hobby, or a task at work, I need to actively do something to learn and understand it. This is where constructivism comes in. Through constructivist learning, students participate in various tasks and activities to process new information and apply what they have learned. Multi-sensory resources, questioning, and various resources are used to enrich learning. Students collaborate with their peers. They take an active role in what they are learning. Teachers provide scaffolding and help relate lessons to the real world to help students stay motivated and connected to what they are learning. If I wanted to learn how to crochet a blanket, I am not going to ask someone to verbally explain it to me. I would do research and find the kind of blanket I would want to make. Then I would look up the materials that I would need. I may watch a video tutorial of the stitches I would need to use. I also may find printable instructions with pictures. If I needed help, I may reach out to a friend for advice. However, if someone stood and gave me instructions for the entire process of making a blanket, I probably would not understand certain parts, and I would forget steps before I even needed to use them. Students are no different. Teachers cannot lecture to students and expect a flawless transfer of information with complete understanding. Students need learning to be a process where they can get their hands dirty at times, do their own research, and ask questions. They need to learn through their experiences and take a more active role in their learning (with the guidance and support of a great teacher). I look forward to using constructivism in my future classroom because I can see the many ways in which it can benefit my students in how they learn and grow in the classroom.
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Audriana ReidArchives
April 2021
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