Constructivism is a learning theory where students actively construct knowledge based on personal experiences. Key contributors include John Dewey who advocated for progressive education and project-based learning, and Jean Piaget who believed that learners adapt through assimilation and accommodation. Instructors act as facilitators rather than teachers by helping students form their own understandings. Constructivism encourages self-directed, creative, and innovative learning through problem-based learning and collaboration in the zone of proximal development.

1. Kristen Conchiglia

2.  What is constructivism?
 Who are the main contributors?
 How can it be used in the classroom?
 My Classroom uses
 Sources

3.  Learning is an active process
 Learner constructs knowledge
 Construction based on personal experiences
 Ideal learner is
 Self-directed
 Creative
 Innovative
 Motivated

4.  Instructors are facilitators, not teachers
 Facilitator helps learner form their own
understanding of the subject
 Goal: Support the learner to being an
effective thinker
 Problem Based learning
 Prior knowledge and experiences play a part
in the learning process
Menu

5.  SocialConstructivist  http://www.learningandteaching.info/learning/
graphics/zpd.GIF
 Zone of Proximal
Development (ZPD)
 What a student can
do with help
 Observations:
 Children learn better
when collaborating
with adult

6.  John Dewey
 Progressive Education
 Project Based Learning
 Jean Piaget
 Adapting by use of assimilation and
accommodation

7.  Cooperative Questioning:
 students work together to ask and answer
questions
 Student Teaching:
 students become experts on a subject and teach
it to others
 Cooperative Problem Solving:
 Students work together to research a particular
problem and come up with solutions

8.  Relate past knowledge to the new material
 Find things students have in common
 Use similarities in teaching and group work
 Showcause and effect relationship of history
and present

9.  Personal thoughts on constructivism
 Pluses:
 Prepares for college and further education
 Encourages independence and self thinking
 Develops problem solving and critical thinking
skills
 Works well with cooperative learning styles
 Minuses:
 Requires high learner motivation

10.  Ways I apply constructivism
 Group projects and research
 Class structure more like a college class
 More independence
 Problem based learning
 Find solutions to some of today’s science
controversies

11.  Constructivism Wiki
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constructivism_(le
arning_theory)
 Learning Theories.com
 http://www.learning-
theories.com/constructivism.html
 Learning and Teaching.info
 http://www.learningandteaching.info/learning/c
onstructivism.htm