Constructivism: A Holistic Approach to Teaching and Learning

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.

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
• Emphasizes problem solving and understanding
• Uses authentic tasks, experiences, settings, assessments
• Content presented holistically –not in separate smaller parts

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
• Seek and value students’ points of view 
• Use the social context of content
• Provide multiple modes of representations / perspectives on content
• Create new understandings via coaching, moderating , suggesting
• Testing should be integrated with the task and not a separate activity
• Use errors to inform students of progress to understanding and changes in ideas

Constructivism is a process –the student

• Help develop own goals and assessments
• Create new understandings (via coaching, moderating, suggesting)
• Control learning (reflecting)
• Member of community of learners
• Collaborate among fellow students
• Learn in a social experience –appreciate different perspectives
• Take ownership and voice in learning process

  

Constructivism is an instructional strategy

• Involves collaboration between instructors, students and others (community members)
• Tailored to needs and purposes of individual learners
• Features active, challenging, authentic and multidisciplinary learning
• Constructivism can help students

            – Pursue personal interests and purposes

            – Use and develop his or her abilities

            – Build on his or her prior knowledge and experiences

            – Develop life‐long learning

• Constructivism encourages instructors to provide for each student’s

           – Preferred learning style
           – Rate of learning
           – Personal interactions with other learners



Applying constructivism in the classroom

•  Pose problems that are or will be relevant to students
• Structure learning around essential concepts
• Be aware that students’ points of view are windows into their reasoning
• Adapt teaching to address students’ suppositions and development
• Assess student learning in context of teaching

Constructivism summary

• Shifts emphasis from teaching to learning
• Individualizes and contextualizes students’ learning experiences
• Helps students develop processes, skills and attitudes
• Considers students’ learning styles
• Focuses on knowledge construction, not reproduction
• Uses authentic tasks to engage learners
• Provides for meaningful, problem‐based thinking
• Requires negotiation of meaning
• Requires reflection of prior and new knowledge
• Extends students beyond content presented to them