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CHAPTER 2: Lesson 1: Constructivist Theory

This document provides an overview of constructivist theory and teaching methods based on constructivism. It discusses key aspects of constructivist theory, including that learning is an active process where learners construct new ideas based on prior knowledge, and that cognitive structures provide meaning and allow learning to go beyond given information. It also outlines Bruner's four aspects of instructional theory and discusses how constructivist teaching acknowledges individual differences in learning and assesses students in the context of classroom investigations rather than separate events. Teaching methods based on constructivism view students as active learners who construct their own understandings rather than having knowledge constructed for them.

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108 views

CHAPTER 2: Lesson 1: Constructivist Theory

This document provides an overview of constructivist theory and teaching methods based on constructivism. It discusses key aspects of constructivist theory, including that learning is an active process where learners construct new ideas based on prior knowledge, and that cognitive structures provide meaning and allow learning to go beyond given information. It also outlines Bruner's four aspects of instructional theory and discusses how constructivist teaching acknowledges individual differences in learning and assesses students in the context of classroom investigations rather than separate events. Teaching methods based on constructivism view students as active learners who construct their own understandings rather than having knowledge constructed for them.

Uploaded by

Jessa Acacio
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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CHAPTER 2: Lesson 1

CONSTRUCTIVIST
THEORY
Constructivist Theory by Jerome Bruner

• learning is an active process in which learners construct new


ideas or concepts based upon their current/past knowledge.
• learner selects and transforms information, constructs
hypotheses, and makes decisions, relying on a cognitive
structure to do so. Cognitive structure (i.e., schema, mental
models) provides meaning and organization to experiences
and allows the individual to “go beyond the information
given”.
Bruner (1966) states that a theory of instruction should address four major aspects:

(1) predisposition towards learning


(2) the ways in which a body of knowledge can be
structured so that it can be most readily grasped by the
learner
(3) the most effective sequences in which to present
material
(4) the nature and pacing of rewards and punishments.
Teaching with the Constructivist Learning Theory

 What is the best method of teaching to use?

One of the first things a teacher must do when


considering how to teach students is to
acknowledge that each student does not learn in
the same way.
Teaching with the Constructivist Learning Theory

 How do students learn best?


 Before we answer this question, ask yourself, "How do I
learn best?" For example, do you learn better when someone
tells you exactly how to do something, or do you learn better by
doing it yourself? Many people are right in the middle of those
two scenarios. This has led many educators to believe that the
best way to learn is by having students construct their own
knowledge instead of having someone construct it for them.
Different Methods of Learning

• The percentages listed represent the average amount of information that is


retained through that particular learning method.
 Lecture = 5%
 Reading = 10%
 Audiovisual = 20%
 Demonstration = 30%
 Discussion Group = 50%
 Practice by doing = 75%
 Teach others / immediate use of learning = 90%
Five Central Tenets of Constructivism (Grennon Brooks & Brooks, 1993):

 First, constructivist teachers seek and value students' points of view.


 Second, constructivist teachers structure lessons to challenge students'
suppositions.
 Third, constructivist teachers recognize that students must attach
relevance to the curriculum.
 Fourth, constructivist teachers structure lessons around big ideas, not
small bits of information.
 Finally, constructivist teachers assess student learning in the context of
daily classroom investigations, not as separate events.
Contributors of the Constructivist Theory:

Lev Semyonovich Vygotsky (1896 –


1943)
Jean Piaget (1896 – 1980)
John Dewey (1859 – 1952)
Jerome Seymour Bruner (1915 – 2016)
NOTE: A common misunderstanding regarding
constructivism is that instructors should never tell students
anything directly but, instead, should always allow them to
construct knowledge for themselves. This is actually confusing a
theory of pedagogy (teaching) with a theory of knowing.
Constructivism assumes that all knowledge is constructed from
the learner’s previous knowledge, regardless of how one is
taught. Thus, even listening to a lecture involves active attempts
to construct new knowledge. Vygotsky’s social development
theory is one of the foundations for constructivism.

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