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CONSTRUCTIVISM

What is constructivism?
(Par. 1) Constructivism is an important learning theory that educators use to help
their students learn. Constructivism is based on the idea that people actively
construct or make their own knowledge, and that reality is determined by your
experiences as a learner. Basically, learners use their previous knowledge as a
foundation and build on it with new things that they learn. So everyone's
individual experiences make their learning unique to them. 
(Par. 2) Constructivism is crucial to understand as an educator because it
influences the way all of your students learn. Teachers and instructors that
understand the constructivist learning theory understand that their students
bring their own unique experiences to the classroom every day. Their
background and previous knowledge impacts how they are able to learn.
Educators are able to use constructivist learning theory to help their students
understand their previous knowledge. If you’re a current or aspiring
educator, it’s important to get the education and credentials you need. But it’s
also important to understand learning theories and how they impact you and
your students. This guide will tell you more about the constructivist learning
theory and how it helps you as a teacher.

Principles of constructivism.
(Par. 3) There are many specific elements and principles of constructivism that
shape the way the theory works and applies to students. Learn about the
different principles of constructivism and how they make up the whole theory. 
 (Par. 4) Knowledge is constructed. This is the basic principle, meaning that
knowledge is built upon other knowledge. Students take pieces and put them
together in their own unique way, building something different than what
another student will build. The student’s previous knowledge, experiences,
beliefs, and insights are all important foundations for their continued learning. 
 (Par. 5) People learn to learn, as they learn. Learning involves constructing
meaning and systems of meaning. For example, if a student is learning the
chronology of dates for a series of historical events, at the same time they are
learning the meaning of chronology. If a student is writing a paper about history,
they are also learning principles of grammar and writing as well. Each thing we
learn gives us a better understanding of other things in the future.
 (Par. 6) Learning is an active process. Learning involves sensory input to
construct meaning. The learner needs to do something in order to learn, it’s not a
passive activity. Learners need to engage in the world so they are actively
involved in their own learning and development. You can’t just sit and expect to
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be told things and learn, you need to engage in discussions, reading, activities,
etc.
 (Par. 7) Learning is a social activity. Learning is directly associated to our
connection with other people. Our teachers, our family, or peers, and our
acquaintances impact our learning. Educators are more likely to be successful as
they understand that peer involvement is key in learning. Isolating learnings
isn’t the best way to help students learn and grow together. Progressive
education recognizes that social interaction is key to learning and they use
conversation, interaction, and group applications to help students retain their
knowledge. 
 (Par. 8) Learning is contextual. Students don’t learn isolated facts and theories
separate from the rest of our lives—we learn in ways connected to things we
already know, what we believe, and more. The things we learn and the points we
tend to remember are connected to the things going on around us. 
 (Par. 9) Knowledge is personal. Because constructivism is based on your own
experiences and beliefs, knowledge becomes a personal affair. Each person will
have their own prior knowledge and experiences to bring to the table. So the way
and things people learn and gain from education will all be very different. 
 (Par. 10) Learning exists in the mind. Hands-on experiences and physical actions
are necessary for learning, but those elements aren’t enough. Engaging the mind
is key to successful learning. Learning needs to involve activities for the minds,
not just our hands. Mental experiences are needed for retaining knowledge.
 (Par. 11) Motivation is key to learning. Students are unable to learn if they are
unmotivated. Educators need to have ways to engage and motivate learners to
activate their minds and help them be excited about education. Without
motivation, it’s difficult for learners to reach into their past experience and make
connections for new learning.

Types of constructivism.
(Par. 12) There are different types of constructivism that educators can use to
find success with this learning theory. 
 (Par. 13) Cognitive. Cognitive constructivism focuses on the idea that learning
should be related to the learner’s stage of cognitive development. These methods
work to help students in learning new information by connecting it to things
they already know, enabling them to make modifications in their existing
intelligence to accommodate the new information. Cognitive constructivism
comes from the work of Jean Piaget and his research on cognitive development
in children. 
 (Par. 14) Social. Social constructivism focuses on the collaborative nature of
learning. Knowledge develops from how people interact with each other, their
culture, and society at large. Students rely on others to help create their building
blocks, and learning from others helps them construct their own knowledge and
reality. Social constructivism comes from Lev Vygotsky, and is closely connected
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to cognitive constructivism with the added element of societal and peer

influence.
 (Par. 15) Radical. Radical constructivism is very different from cognitive and
social constructivism. It focuses on the idea that learners and the knowledge they
construct tell us nothing real, only help us function in our environment. The
overall idea is that knowledge is invented, not discovered. The things we bring
to the table make it impossible for us to have truth, only interpretations of
knowledge. This theory was developed by Ernst von Glasersfeld in 1974. 

Constructivism in education.
(Par. 16) It’s important to understand how teachers can apply constructivism
inside their classroom to create a unique learning environment for students. In
constructivist classrooms, the teacher has a role to create a collaborative
environment where students are actively involved in their own learning.
Teachers are more facilitators of learning than actual instructors. Teachers must
work to understand the preexisting conceptions and understanding of students,
then work to incorporate knowledge within those areas. Teachers will also need
to adjust their teaching to match the learner’s level of understanding. 
(Par. 17) Constructivist classrooms rely on four key areas to be successful:
 Shared knowledge between teachers and students.
 Shared authority between teachers and students.
 Teachers act as a guide or facilitator.
 Learning groups consist of small numbers of students.
(Par. 18) Constructivist classrooms are often very different from normal
classrooms in many ways. Constructivist classrooms focus on student questions
and interests, they build on what students already know, they focus on
interactive learning and are student-centered, teachers have a dialogue with
students to help them construct their own knowledge, they root in negotiation,
and students work primarily in groups.
(Par. 19) Constructivist classrooms often have teachers who do small group
work, collaborative and interactive activities, and open dialogues about what
students need in order to find success.

Disadvantages of constructivist methods.

(Par. 20) The biggest criticism of constructivist learning is its lack of structure.
Some students need highly structured and organized learning environments to
thrive, and constructivist learning focuses on a more laid-back method to help
students engage in their own learning.
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(Par. 21) Grading is often removed from constructivist classrooms and places
more value on student progress, which can lead to students falling behind and
not meeting standardized grading requirements.
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If you are hoping to become a teacher, a degree is crucial to getting on the right
path. Additionally, it’s valuable for teachers to understand different learning
theories and how they impact their classroom and their students.
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Source:
https://www.wgu.edu/blog/what-constructivism2005.html#close

WGU – Western Governors University