...Constructivism: A Holistic Approach to Teaching and Learning Janet Giesen Faculty Development and Instructional Design Center Northern Illinois University Introductions • Your name • Your department or unit • Your experiences or knowledge of constructivism • Why have you joined us today? Overview • Learning cycle • Constructivism – Learning theory – Process – Instructional strategy • Classroom applications • Instructor and student roles Learning Cycle or “5 E’s” Engage Extend Evaluate Explain Explore How would you define constructivism? A definition of constructivism Fundamentally, constructivism says that people construct their own understanding and knowledge of the world through experiencing things and reflecting on those experiences. Source: Thirteen Ed Online (2004) Constructivism is a learning theory • Learning is an active process • Knowledge is constructed from (and shaped by) experience • Learning is a personal interpretation of the world Sources: Christie (2005); Kruse (n.d.) Constructivism is a learning theory • Emphasizes problem solving and understanding • Uses authentic tasks, experiences, settings, assessments • Content presented holistically – not in separate smaller parts Sources: Christie (2005); Constructivism is a process – the instructor • Adapt curriculum to address students’ suppositions • Help negotiate goals and objectives with learners • Pose problems of emerging relevance to students • Emphasize hands‐on, real‐world experiences...
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...Constructivism as an Educational theory in Mathematics Name: Institution: Instructor: Date: Introduction Learning is an inevitable process for human beings and even animals. A young one is born with little or no knowledge of the surrounding, both within and without. In this case, things start acquiring a given shape through the learning process. Learning becomes the preoccupation of human beings as their growth and development takes course. In the former times, learning was accomplished in an informal setting. As development and modernization took shape, dedication was formalized and confined to the classroom. Classroom teaching methods has been revolutionized with development of various theories and philosophies for the same. Among them is constructivism theory. This theory has been applied in many subjects including mathematics. This paper explores constructivism as an educational theory in mathematics. Constructivism as an Educational theory Constructivism theory is coined around a philosophy of self experience of the learner. This theory is coined on the basis of how a student connects information or instructions give in class. Jean Piaget, who came up with this theory suggest that learning is accomplished through a connection of the experience of the learner with new information. In most cases, the new information or ideas leant in the classroom or anywhere is not really taken in as intended. Instead, a student processes information given based...
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...Article published in Education Today, issue 2 of 2005, Aries Publishing Company, Thames, New Zealand. Article by: Dr Tom H Brown Deputy Director Department of Telematic Learning & Education Innovation University of Pretoria South Africa 0002 +27 12 420-3884 (Tel) +27 12 420-3828 (Fax) +27 82 908-3884 (Cell) eMail: tom.brown@up.ac.za Beyond constructivism: Exploring future learning paradigms Abstract Educational practice is continually subjected to renewal, due to developments in information and communication technology (ICT), the commercialisation and globalisation of education, social changes and the pursuit of quality. Of these, the impact of ICT and the new knowledge economy are the most significant. Changes in our educational practice lead, in turn, to changes in our approaches to teaching and learning. These changes also impact on our teaching and learning paradigms. Currently, as over the past few decades, we teach and learn in a constructivist learning paradigm. This article discusses past and present paradigm shifts in education and then explores possible future learning paradigms in the light of the knowledge explosion in the knowledge era that we are currently entering. 1. The impact of ICT on education The electronic information revolution currently experienced in the world can be compared to and reveals the same characteristics as the first information revolution started by Gutenberg’s printing press. This means that, just as present-day society accepts...
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...Technology Education In this article, I explored tenets of constructivism that could be directly applied to the Career and Technology Education Standards for Career and Technology Education Teachers. This article provides a proposed constructivist pedagogy for the Vocational Technology studies. Though I do not consider myself to be a strict- constructivist teacher, when I compared my educational philosophy to this proposed pedagogy, I realized how much the study of constructivist theory and practice had influenced my beliefs and methods of instruction. As a future Technology Education educator, I applied these constructivist principles to my own teaching style and methods. A Constructivist Pedagogy for Career and Technology Education The National Association of State Directors of Career Technical Education Consortium states: “career studies should be taught in manners that are consistent with a constructivist view of learning” (NASDCTEC, 1999, p. 7). While this may sound good in theory, one underlying problem exists: the lack of a clearly defined, agreed-upon constructivist pedagogy. This article will (1) explore the definition and variations of constructivist theory, (2) present a pedagogy for constructivist teachers of career and technology studies, and (3) compare and relate those pedagogies to the existing standards for powerful career and technology studies as defined by the NASDCTEC. “Constructivism is a topic on the conference programs of virtually all prominent...
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...Constructivism & PBL CONSTRUCTIVISM AS A CULTURAL SYSTEM, CURRICULUM INTEGRATION AND PBL 1 Constructivism as a cultural system in a n integrated curriculum program using Problem Based Learning Hortensia Jiménez Díaz Córdoba, Ver. Presented as a poster in the PBL2004 International Conference Cancún, México June 13-19, 2004 Constructivism & PBL Abstract The purpose of this paper is to identify if teachers and students from an undergraduate program designed under a constructivist model, using curriculum integration and PBL, perceive the created environment as a cultural system, according to Windschitl (1999). The research work was completed with open questionnaires and direct observations that were used to collect information about the process that is going on in this program. The data obtained was analyzed using the seven essential values of PBL proposed by Keng-Neo, Yih Chyn and Heng Chye (2001) that were related to Windschitl’s elements of a cultural system. The findings show that even when the program has most of the elements proposed by the authors mentioned above, the teachers do not have a deep 2 knowledge about constructivism and its philosophical principles, and they consider PBL just as an alternative way of teaching. A deeper analysis is required to establish which of the factors involved in creating a cultural system are present in this kind of programs and how do these factors contribute to that. Constructivism & PBL 3 Constructivism as a cultural...
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...------------------------------------------------- Constructivism Main article: Constructivism (learning theory) Constructivism is a revolution in educational psychology. Built on the work of Piaget and Bruner, constructivism emphasizes the importance of active involvement of learners in constructing knowledge for themselves...Constructivism emphasizes top-down processing: begin with complex problems and teach basic skills while solving these problems [13]. Constructivism explains why students do not learn deeply by listening to a teacher, or reading from a textbook. Learning sciences research is revealing the deeper underlying basis of how knowledge construction works. To design effective environments, one needs a very good understanding of what children know when they come to the classroom. This requires sophisticated research into children's cognitive development, and the learning sciences draws heavily on psychological studies of cognitive development (e.g., Siegler, 1998). The learning theories of John Dewey, Marie Montessori, and David Kolb serve as the foundation of constructivist learning theory.[14]Constructivism views learning as a process in which the learner actively constructs or builds new ideas or concepts based upon current and past knowledge or experience. In other words, "learning involves constructing one's own knowledge from one's own experiences." Constructivist learning, therefore, is a very personal endeavor, whereby internalized concepts, rules, and general...
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...Constructivism (learning theory) Constructivism is a theory to explain how knowledge is constructed in the human being when information comes into contact with existing knowledge that had been developed by experiences. It has its roots in cognitive psychology and biology and an approach to education that lays emphasis on the ways knowledge is created in order to adapt to the world. Constructs are the different types of filters we choose to place over our realities to change our reality from chaos to order. Von Glasersfeld describes constructivism as “a theory of knowledge with roots in philosophy, psychology, and cybernetics”.[1] Constructivism has implications to the theory of instruction. Discovery learning, hands-on, experiential, collaborate, project-based, tasked-based are a number of application that base teaching and learning. Constructivists • John Dewey (1859–1952) • Maria Montessori (1870–1952) • Władysław Strzemiński (1893–1952) • Lev Vygotsky (1896–1934) • Jean Piaget (1896–1980) • George Kelly (1905–1967) • Heinz von Foerster (1911–2002) • Ernst von Glasersfeld (1917–2010) • Paul Watzlawick (1921–2007) • Edgar Morin (1921–) • Humberto Maturana (1928–) • Laszlo Garai (1935–) • David A. Kolb (1939–) Historical and Theoretical Roots According to Kliebard,[2] John Dewey created an active intellectual learning environment in his laboratory school during the early 20th century. Neuroscience now supports this form of active learning as the way people naturally...
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...CHAPTER- I INTRODUCTION Education is the control agency in shaping the future of the individual and nation. Education is central to the knowledge based society where human being who is the creator, preserver and destroyer. Education is said to be the third eye of a person which gives insight in all affairs. It teaches to act justly and rightly. It removes the darkness, ignorance and illusion. Plants are developed with cultivation and men by education. Education nourishes like a mother, shows proper path like a father and shows destination like a teacher. Education is said to be the enlightenment of knowledge, intelligence and wisdom. Education is a process of living through a continuous reconstruction of experiences. It is the development of all those capacities in the individual which enable him to control environment and fulfill his possibilities Education in a broad sense refers to all those activities and experience that has a formative experience in the mind of the individual. Education should be a motive force due to which a man pursues knowledge relentlessly whatever may be his field and teachers are the main source of motivation. The teacher who is indeed wise does not bind you to enter the house of wisdom but rather leads you to the threshold of your mind. Teacher is the one who sheds good influence upon students, creates in them a sense of respect, love and is responsible for all round development of child. Teachers are very important in life long and dynamic process...
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...Fundamentally,constructivism says that people construct their own understanding and knowledge of the world through experiencing things and reflecting on those experiences. It is a learning theory that emphazises problem solving and understanding using athentic tasks, experiences, settings and assesments. The first article I read abot described how constructivism is a process both for the instructor and the student. The goals for the instructor are to adapt the curriculum to address the students suppositions. Help negotiate goals and objectives with learners and pose problems of emerging relevance to students. Emphasize hands on,real world experiences and also seek and value students point of view. In return the student will develop his/her own goals and assessments and create new understandings to control learning based on reflections. The student will collaborate among fellow students, learn in a social experience and take ownership and voice of the learning process. Constructivism can help students pursue personal interests and purposes. They build on his/her prior knowledge and experience and develop life long learning skills. The second article I read was written by Prof. George E. Hein for the CECA conference. I the article professor Hein gave his thoughts about the constructivism learning theory and how it applied to museums and the need of people. "He defines constructivism as the idea that learners construct knowledge for themselves---each learner individually (and...
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...Comparison of Two Theories of Learning -Behaviorism and Constructivism as applied to Face-to-Face and Online Learning Dr. Mary Anne Weegar Dr. Dina Pacis National University San Diego, CA, USA Abstract The two theories of learning discussed are Behaviorism and Constructivism. Skinner and Watson, the two major developers of the behaviorist school of thought sought to prove that behavior could be predicted and controlled (Skinner, 1974). They studied how learning is affected by changes in the environment. The constructivists viewed learning as a search for meaning. Piaget and Vygotsky described elements that helped predict what children understand at different stages (Rummel, 2008). Details of both theories illuminate the differences and connections between the behavioral and constructivist theories in relationship to how children learn and how their behavior is affected. How curriculum and instruction work with these theories to promote learning and how educators view learning with respect to both theories are also reviewed. Introduction Many students enrolled in institutions of higher education in the United States have had experience with both face-to-face and online classes. Educational researchers have begun to examine the technological characteristics of online classes which contribute to making online classes equivalent to face-to-face classes in relationship to their pedagogical effectiveness. The growth of online learning has changed the traditional learning environment of brick...
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...Social Constructivism (A way of learning through social interaction) In partial fulfillment for the requirement of the subject in PSYC 3095 Experimental Psychology Submitted to: Prof. John Mark Distor Submitted by: Sioson, Marry Jane R. Liwag, Norshan V, Rallos, Sheena Mae J. Atienza, Allineth O. OBJECTIVE: To determine if the students learn effectively through social interaction. APPARATUS: test questionnaire, timer INTRODUCTION: Social constructivism is a sociological theory of knowledge that applies the general philosophical constructivism into social settings, wherein groups construct knowledge for one another, collaboratively creating a small culture of shared artifacts with shared meanings. When one is immersed within a culture of this sort, one is learning all the time about how to be a part of that culture on many levels. Lev Vygotsky’s “Social Constructivism” is a kind of social interaction with others and helps the learner put meaning to information. In this kind of cognitive theory, learning occurs through social, meaning created by each learner. The factors influencing learning are engagement, participation, social cultural. The role of the memory in Constructivism is that prior knowledge is remixed to current context. The transfer of learning occur is through socialization PROCEDURE: The experimenters will give a certain situational problem to a class and divide them into three...
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...Ministry of Education His Majesty's Government of Nepal 1971 Social Constructivism 1. 1. Social Constructivism/ Activity Theory Jess Boucher Diane Pereira Gary Heverly John McDonough October 25, 2012 2. 2. Once the task has been completed, the robot will return to the starting position. Only one person can submit a task list at once. Rules: Motors can turn on or off at the same time Motors turn on for seconds at a time (ex. “Left motor on for three seconds”) Each leg is a separate motor What you know: Tell the robot how to autonomously walk in a square. Your Task: Class Activity 3. 3. Definition(s) & Learning is a social activityDerry, S. J. (1999). A Fish called peer learning: Searching for common themes. In A. M. ODonnell Knowledge is socially and culturally constructed that is influenced by the group and its’ environment Knowledge is a product of human interaction 3 Assumptions: Social constructivism emphasizes the importance of culture and context in understanding what occurs in society and constructing knowledge based on this understanding (Derry, 1999; McMahon, 1997). Assumptions & A. King (Eds.).Kim, B. (2001). Social Constructivism.. In M. Orey (Ed.), Emerging perspectives on learning, teaching, and technology. Retrieved <insert date>, fromhttp://projects.coe.uga.edu/epltt/McMahon, M. (1997, December). Social Constructivism and the World Wide Web - A Paradigm for Learning. Paper presented at the ASCILITE conference.Perth, Australia. ...
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...be successful are related to week ones readings, Swinburne Online (2015), Learning and Communicating Online, Future Work Skills 2020 (Institute for the Future, 2011). With many changes relating to the expand of computerised systems and the increasing use of technology, it will be beneficial for me to develop and apply the following skills. Sense Making will help me to provide meaning to my experiences and relate this to my current tasks. Having a broad knowledge in this area will enable me to relate to different situations and deal with matters in a professional and advising manner. Social Intelligence will provide the confidence of my recipients, along with trust in difficult situations. Cross-Cultural Competency will be beneficial enabling me to operate in whichever environment I am placed. Strong communicational skills will need to be demonstrated to connect with a wide range of people and build relationships to work effectively together. Design Mindset will enable me not to focus on the problem, however, to focus on the solution and what action will be required in certain situations. Virtual Collaboration will need to be demonstrated enabling me to work productively and demonstrate my team leadership skills. Learning online is different because it is not the traditional face to face communication. Online communication requires more focus and discipline than the traditional classroom learning. Developing a time management strategy, making the most of online discussions...
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...Most influential theories of learning Learning is defined as a process that brings together personal and environmental experiences and influences for acquiring, enriching or modifying one’s knowledge, skills, values, attitudes, behaviour and world views. Learning theories develop hypotheses that describe how this process takes place. The scientific study of learning started in earnest at the dawn of the 20th century. The major concepts and theories of learning include behaviourist theories, cognitive psychology, constructivism, social constructivism, experiential learning, multiple intelligence, and situated learning theory and community of practice. Behaviourism The behaviourist perspectives of learning originated in the early 1900s, and became dominant in early 20th century. The basic idea of behaviourism is that learning consists of a change in behaviour due to the acquisition, reinforcement and application of associations between stimuli from the environment and observable responses of the individual. Behaviourists are interested in measurable changes in behaviour. Thorndike, one major behaviourist theorist, put forward that (1) a response to a stimulus is reinforced when followed by a positive rewarding effect, and (2) a response to a stimulus becomes stronger by exercise and repetition. This view of learning is akin to the “drill-and-practice” programmes. Skinner, another influential behaviourist, proposed his variant of behaviourism called “operant conditioning”. In...
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...Roughly 2000 years later, there were a growing number of educated individuals beginning to take second look at everything we thought we knew about being human. Among these people, there was Ivan Pavlov, who began ringing a bell, and not only did Clarence get his wings, but what was learned through the well-known story of Pavlov and his dogs also served as the impetus for John Watson and B. F. Skinner and their ground-breaking notion of Behaviorism. Behaviorism, simplified, is the theory that a person is the product of their environment, and to change a person’s behavior, one needs to simply adjust their environment. More specifically, the term behaviorism was coined by John Watson which he defined as a “theoretical perspective in which learning and behavior are described and explained in terms of stimulus-response relationships” (Ormrod, 2010). Incidentally, this theory does not counter indicate the use of corporal punishment as a form of stimulus. The...
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