Constructivism (philosophy of education)

Last updated

Jean Piaget constructed the theory of cognitive development, which describes how children represent and reason about the world. Jean Piaget.jpg
Jean Piaget constructed the theory of cognitive development, which describes how children represent and reason about the world.

Constructivism in education is a theory that suggests that learners do not passively acquire knowledge through direct instruction. Instead, they construct their understanding through experiences and social interaction, integrating new information with their existing knowledge. This theory originates from Swiss developmental psychologist Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development.

Contents

Background

Constructivism in education is rooted in epistemology, a theory of knowledge concerned with the logical categories of knowledge and its justification. [3] It acknowledges that learners bring prior knowledge and experiences shaped by their social and cultural environment and that learning is a process of students "constructing" knowledge based on their experiences. While Behaviorism focuses on understanding what students are doing, constructivism emphasizes the importance of understanding what students are thinking and how to enrich their thinking. [4]

Constructivism in educational psychology can be attributed to the work of Jean Piaget (1896–1980) and his theory of cognitive development. Piaget's focus was on how humans make meaning by integrating experiences with ideas, emphasizing human development as distinct from external influences [5] Another influential figure, Lev Vygotsky (1896-1934), emphasized the importance of sociocultural learning in his theory of social constructivism, highlighting how interactions with adults, peers, and cognitive tools contribute to the formation of mental constructs. Building upon Vygotsky's work, Jerome Bruner and other educational psychologists introduced the concept of instructional scaffolding, where the learning environment provides support that is gradually removed as learners internalize the knowledge. [4]

Views more focused on human development within the social sphere include the sociocultural or socio-historical perspective of Lev Vygotsky and the situated cognition perspectives of Mikhail Bakhtin, Jean Lave, and Etienne Wenger. [6] Additionally, the works of Brown, Collins, and Duguid, [7] as well as Newman, Griffin, Cole, [8] and Barbara Rogoff [9] .

The concept of constructivism has impacted a number of disciplines, including psychology, sociology, education, and the history of science. [10] In its early stages, constructivism focused on the relationship between human experiences and their reflexes or behavior patterns. Piaget referred to these systems of knowledge "schemes."

Piaget's theory of constructivist learning has significantly influenced learning theories and teaching methods in education. It serves as a foundational concept in education reform movements within cognitive science and neuroscience. [11]

Overview

The formalization of constructivism from a within-the-human perspective is commonly credited to Jean Piaget. Piaget described the mechanisms by which information from the environment and ideas from the individual interact to form internalized structures developed by learners. He identified processes of assimilation and accommodation as crucial in this interaction, as individuals construct new knowledge from their experiences.

When individuals assimilate new information, they integrate it into their existing framework without altering that framework. This can happen when their experiences align with their internal view of the world, but it can also occur if they fail to update a flawed understanding. Accommodation is the process of adjusting one's mental representation of the external world to fit new experiences. It can be understood as the mechanism by which failure leads to learning.

It is important to note that constructivism is not a specific pedagogy, but rather a theory explaining how learning occurs, regardless of the learning environment. However, constructivism is often associated with pedagogic approaches that promote active learning, or learning by doing. While there is much enthusiasm for constructivism as a design strategy, some experts believe that it is more of a philosophical framework than a theory that can precisely describe instruction or prescribe design strategies. [12] :4

Constructivist Pedagogy

The nature of the learner

Social constructivism recognizes and embraces the individuality and complexity of each learner, actively encouraging and rewarding it as a vital component of the learning process. [13]

The importance of the background and culture of the learner

Social constructivism, also known as socioculturalism, emphasizes the role of an individual's background, culture, and worldview in shaping their understanding of truth. According to this theory, learners inherit historical developments and symbol systems from their culture and continue to learn and develop these throughout their lives. This approach highlights the significance of a learner's social interactions with knowledgeable members of society. It suggests that without such interactions, it is challenging to grasp the social meaning of important symbol systems and learn how to effectively use them. Social constructivism also points out that young children develop their thinking abilities through interactions with peers, adults, and the physical world. Therefore, it is essential to consider the learner's background and culture throughout the learning process, as these factors help shape the knowledge and truth that the learner acquires. [13]

Responsibility for learning

Social constructivism emphasizes the importance of the student being actively involved in the learning process, unlike previous educational viewpoints where the responsibility rested with the instructor to teach and where the learner played a passive, receptive role. Von Glasersfeld (1989) emphasized that learners construct their own understanding and that they do not simply mirror and reflect what they read. Learners look for meaning and will try to find regularity and order in the events of the world even in the absence of full or complete information. [14]

The motivation for learning

When considering students' learning, it is essential to take into account their motivation and confidence. According to Von Glasersfeld, a student's motivation to learn is strongly influenced by their belief in their potential for learning [14] This belief is shaped by their past experiences of successfully mastering problems, which is more influential than external acknowledgment and motivation. [15] This idea aligns with Vygotsky's concept of the "zone of proximal development," where students are challenged at a level slightly above their current development. By successfully completing challenging tasks, students build confidence and motivation to take on even more complex challenges. [16]

The role of the instructor

Instructors as facilitators

According to the social constructivist approach, instructors are expected to adapt to the role of facilitators rather than traditional teachers. [17] While a teacher teacher gives a didactic lecture that covers the subject matter, a facilitator assists the student in developing their own understanding of the content. This shift in roles places the focus on the student's active involvement in the learning process, as opposed to the instructor and the content itself. [18]

As a result, a facilitator requires a different set of skills compared to a teacher. [19] For instance, a teacher imparts information, whereas a facilitator encourages questions; a teacher leads from the front, while a facilitator provides support from the background; and a teacher delivers answers based on a set curriculum, whereas a facilitator offers guidance and creates an environment for the learner to form their own conclusions. Furthermore, a teacher typically engages in a monologue, whereas a facilitator maintains an ongoing dialogue with the learners. [20]

Additionally, a facilitator should be able to dynamically adapt the learning experience by taking the lead in guiding the experience to align with the learners' interests and needs in order to create value.

The learning environment should be created in a way that both supports and challenges the student's thinking [21] While it is advocated to give the student ownership of the problem and solution process, it is not the case that any and all activities or solutions are adequate. The critical goal is to support the student in developing effective thinking skills.

Relationship between instructor and students

In the social constructivist viewpoint, the role of the facilitator involves both the instructor and the students being actively engaged in learning from each other. [22] This dynamic interaction requires that the instructor's culture, values, and background play a significant part in shaping the learning experience. Students compare their own thoughts with those of the instructor and their peers, leading to the development of a new, socially validated understanding of the subject matter. [23] The task or problem serves as the interface between the instructor and the student, creating a dynamic interaction. As a result, both students and instructors need to develop an awareness of each other's viewpoints and consider their own beliefs, standards, and values, making the learning experience both subjective and objective at the same time. [24]

Several studies highlight the significance of mentoring in the learning process. [7] [25] The social constructivist model underscores the importance of the relationship between the student and the instructor in facilitating learning.

Interactive learning can be facilitated through various approaches such as reciprocal teaching, peer collaboration, cognitive apprenticeship, problem-based instruction, Anchored Instruction, and other methods that involve collaborative learning.

Learning is an active process

Social constructivism, which is strongly influenced by Vygotsky's work, proposes that knowledge is initially built within a social setting and is then taken in by individuals. [26] According to social constructivists, the act of sharing individual viewpoints, known as collaborative elaboration, leads to learners jointly constructing understanding that would not be achievable on their own. [27] [28]

Social constructivist scholars view learning as an active process in which students are encouraged to discover principles, concepts, and facts independently. Therefore, it is crucial to promote speculation and intuitive thinking in students. [29]

According to other constructivist scholars, individuals create meanings through their interactions with each other and the environment they inhabit. [30] Knowledge is created by people and is shaped by social and cultural influences. [15] [31] McMahon (1997) also emphasizes the social nature of learning, stating that it is not solely a mental process or a result of external factors shaping behavior. Instead, meaningful learning occurs when individuals participate in social activities. [23]

According to Vygotsky (1978), an important aspect of intellectual development is the convergence of speech and practical activity. He emphasized that as children engage in practical activities, they construct meaning on an individual level, and through speech, they connect this meaning to their culture and the interpersonal world they share with others. [16]

Collaboration among learners

Another tenet of social constructivism is that collaboration among individuals with diverse skills and backgrounds is essential for developing a comprehensive understanding of a particular subject or field. [32]

In some social constructivist models, there is an emphasis on the importance of collaboration among learners, which contrasts with traditional competitive approaches. One concept from Vygotsky that is particularly relevant to peer collaboration is the zone of proximal development. This is defined as the gap between a learner's actual developmental level, determined by independent problem-solving, and the level of potential development, determined through problem-solving under adult guidance or in collaboration with more capable peers. It differs from Piaget's fixed biological stages of development. Through a process called "scaffolding," a learner can be extended beyond the limitations of physical maturation, allowing the development process to catch up to the learning process. [16]

When students present and teach new material to their peers, it fosters a non-linear process of collective knowledge construction.

The importance of context

The social constructivist paradigm emphasizes that the environment in which learning takes place plays a crucial role in the learning process. [23]

The concept of the learner as an active processor is based on the idea that there are no universal learning laws that apply to all domains. [21] :208 When individuals possess decontextualized knowledge, they may struggle to apply their understanding to real-world tasks. This is due to the lack of engagement with the concept in its complex, real-world environment, as well as the absence of experience with the intricate interrelationships that influence the application of the concept. [32]

One concept within social constructivism is authentic or situated learning, which involves students participating in activities directly related to the practical application of their learning within a culture similar to the real-world setting. Cognitive apprenticeship is a suggested effective model of constructivist learning that aims to immerse students in authentic practices through activity and social interaction, similar to the successful methods used in craft apprenticeship.[ [29] :25

Holt and Willard-Holt (2000) highlight the concept of dynamic assessment, which offers a distinct approach to evaluating learners compared to traditional tests. Dynamic assessment extends the interactive nature of learning to the assessment process, emphasizing interaction between the assessor and the learner. It involves a dialogue between the assessor and the learner to understand the current performance level on a task and explore ways to improve future performance. This approach views assessment and learning as interconnected processes, rather than separate entities. [22]

According to this viewpoint, instructors should approach assessment as an ongoing and interactive process that evaluates the learner's achievements, the quality of the learning experience, and course materials. The feedback generated by the assessment process is crucial for driving further development.

The selection, scope, and sequencing of the subject matter

Knowledge should be discovered as an integrated whole

The organization of knowledge should prioritize integration over division into separate subjects or compartments. [21] [23]

This again emphasizes the significance of presenting learning within a specific context. [7] The world in which learners operate is not divided into separate subjects but rather comprises a complex array of facts, problems, dimensions, and perceptions. [29]

Engaging and challenging the student

Students benefit from being challenged with tasks that require them to apply skills and knowledge slightly beyond their current level of mastery. This approach can help to maintain their motivation and build on past achievements to boost their confidence. [19] This is in line with Vygotsky's zone of proximal development, which refers to the gap between a person's current level of ability and their potential level of development under the guidance of adults or more capable peers. [16]

Vygotsky (1978) argued that effective instruction should be slightly ahead of a learner's current developmental stage. By doing so, instruction can stimulate the development of a range of functions that are in the learner's zone of proximal development. This highlights the crucial role of instruction in fostering development. [16]

In order to effectively engage and challenge students, it is important that the tasks and learning environment mirror the complexity of the real-world environment in which the students are expected to operate upon completing their education. Students should not only take ownership of the learning and problem-solving process but also take ownership of the problems themselves. [33]

When it comes to organizing subject matter, the constructivist perspective suggests that the fundamental principles of any subject can be taught to anyone at any point, in some capacity. [32] This approach entails introducing the foundational concepts that makeup topics or subject areas initially and then consistently revisiting and expanding on these ideas.

Instructors should recognize that while they are given a set curriculum to follow, they inevitably personalize it to reflect their own beliefs, thoughts, and emotions about the subject matter and their students. As a result, the learning experience becomes a collaborative effort, influenced by the emotions and life experiences of all involved. It's important to consider the student's motivation as central to the learning process. [7] [29]

The structuredness of the learning process

Incorporating an appropriate balance between structure and flexibility into the learning process is essential. According to Savery (1994), a highly structured learning environment may pose challenges for learners in constructing meaning based on their existing conceptual understandings. A facilitator should strive to provide adequate structure to offer clear guidance and parameters for achieving learning objectives, while also allowing for an open and flexible learning experience that enables learners to discover, interact, and arrive at their own understanding of truth. [24]

Teaching Techniques

A few strategies for cooperative learning include:

The Harkness discussion method

The "Harkness" discussion method is named after Edward Harkness, who funded its development at Phillips Exeter Academy in the 1930s. This method involves students sitting in a circle, guiding their own discussion. The teacher's role is minimized, with the students initiating, directing, and focusing the discussion. They work together as a team, sharing responsibility and goals. The ultimate aim is to illuminate the subject, interpret different viewpoints, and piece together a comprehensive understanding. Discussion skills are crucial, and every participant is expected to contribute to keeping the discussion engaging and productive.[ citation needed ]

Criticism

Many cognitive psychologists and educators have raised concerns about the core principles of constructivism, arguing that these theories may be misleading or inconsistent with well-established findings. [35] [36] [37] [38] [39]

In neo-Piagetian theories of cognitive development, it is proposed that learning is influenced by the processing and representational resources available at a particular age. This implies that if the demands of a concept to be learned exceed the available processing efficiency and working memory resources, then the concept is considered unlearnable. This approach to learning can impact the understanding of essential theoretical concepts and reasoning. Therefore, for effective learning to occur, a child must operate in an environment that aligns with their developmental and individual learning constraints, taking into account any deviations from the norm for their age. If this condition is not met, the learning process may not progress as intended. [40] [41]

Many educators have raised concerns about the effectiveness of this approach to instructional design, particularly when it comes to creating instruction for beginners. While some proponents of constructivism claim that "learning by doing" improves learning, critics argue that there is insufficient empirical evidence to support this assertion, especially for novice learners. [35] [42] While some constructivists argue that "learning by doing" enhances learning, critics of this instructional strategy argue that little empirical evidence exists to support this statement given novice learners. [35] [42] Sweller and his colleagues argue that novices do not possess the underlying mental models, or "schemas" necessary for "learning by doing". [43] Additionally, Mayer (2004) conducted a review of the literature and concluded that fifty years of empirical data do not support the use of pure discovery as a constructivist teaching technique. In situations requiring discovery, he recommends the use of guided discovery instead. [42]

Some researchers, such as Kirschner et al. (2006) [35] , have characterized the constructivist teaching methods as "unguided methods of instruction" and have suggested more structured learning activities for learners with little to no prior knowledge. Slezak has expressed skepticism about constructivism, describing it as "fashionable but thoroughly problematic doctrines that can have little benefit for practical pedagogy or teacher education." [44] Similar views have been stated by Meyer, [45] Boden, Quale and others.

Kirschner et al. grouped several learning theories together, including Discovery, Problem-Based, Experiential, and Inquiry-Based learning, and suggested that highly scaffolded constructivist methods such as problem-based learning and inquiry learning may be ineffective. [35] They described several research studies that were favorable to problem-based learning given learners were provided some level of guidance and support. [35]

Confusion between constructivist and maturationist views

Many people confuse constructivist with maturationist views. The constructivist (or cognitive-developmental) stream "is based on the idea that the dialectic or interactionist process of development and learning through the student's active construction should be facilitated and promoted by adults". [46] The romantic maturationist stream emphasizes the natural development of students without adult interventions in a permissive environment. [46] In contrast, constructivism involves adults actively guiding learning while allowing children to take charge of their own learning process.

Subtypes

Contextual constructivism

According to William Cobern (1991) Contextual constructivism is "about understanding the fundamental, culturally based beliefs that both students and teachers bring to class, and how these beliefs are supported by culture. Contextual constructivists not only raise new research questions, they also call for a new research paradigm. The focus on contextualization means that qualitative, especially ethnographic, techniques are to be preferred" (p. 3). [47]

Radical constructivism

Ernst von Glasersfeld developed radical constructivism by coupling Piaget's theory of learning and philosophical viewpoint about the nature of knowledge with Kant's rejection of an objective reality independent of human perception or reason. Radical constructivism does not view knowledge as an attempt to generate ideas that match an independent, objective reality. [48] Instead, theories and knowledge about the world, as generated by our senses and reason, either fit within the constraints of whatever reality may exist and, thus, are viable or do not and are not viable. [49] As a theory of education, radical constructivism emphasizes the experiences of the learner, differences between learners and the importance of uncertainty. [50]

Relational constructivism

Björn Kraus' relational constructivism can be perceived as a relational consequence of radical constructivism. In contrast to social constructivism, it picks up the epistemological threads and maintains the radical constructivist idea that humans cannot overcome their limited conditions of reception. Despite the subjectivity of human constructions of reality, relational constructivism focuses on the relational conditions that apply to human perceptional processes. [51]

Social constructivism

In recent decades, constructivist theorists have extended the traditional focus on individual learning to address collaborative and social dimensions of learning. It is possible to see social constructivism as a bringing together of aspects of the work of Piaget with that of Bruner and Vygotsky. [52]

Communal constructivism

The concept Communal constructivism was developed by Leask and Younie [53] in 1995 through their research on the European SchoolNet [54] which demonstrated the value of experts collaborating to push the boundaries of knowledge i.e. communal construction of new knowledge between experts rather than social construction of knowledge as described by Vygotsky where there is a learner to teacher scaffolding relationship. "Communal constructivism" as a concept applies to those situations in which there is currently no expert knowledge or research to underpin knowledge in an area. "Communal constructivism" refers specifically to the process of experts working together to create, record and publish new knowledge in emerging areas. In the seminal European SchoolNet research where for the first time academics were testing out how the internet could support classroom practice and pedagogy, experts from a number of countries set up test situations to generate and understand new possibilities for educational practice.

Bryan Holmes in 2001 applied this to student learning as described in an early paper, "in this model, students will not simply pass through a course like water through a sieve but instead leave their own imprint in the learning process." [55]

Influence on computer science and robotics

Constructivism has influenced the course of programming and computer science. Some famous programming languages have been created, wholly or in part, for educational use, to support the constructionist theory of Seymour Papert. These languages have been dynamically typed, and reflective. Logo and its successor Scratch are the best known of them. Constructivism has also informed the design of interactive machine learning systems, [56] whereas Radical Constructivism has been explored as a paradigm to design experiments in rehabilitation robotics, more precisely in prosthetics. [57]

List of notable constructivists

Writers who influenced constructivism include:

See also

Related Research Articles

Educational psychology is the branch of psychology concerned with the scientific study of human learning. The study of learning processes, from both cognitive and behavioral perspectives, allows researchers to understand individual differences in intelligence, cognitive development, affect, motivation, self-regulation, and self-concept, as well as their role in learning. The field of educational psychology relies heavily on quantitative methods, including testing and measurement, to enhance educational activities related to instructional design, classroom management, and assessment, which serve to facilitate learning processes in various educational settings across the lifespan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Learning theory (education)</span> Theory that describes how students receive, process, and retain knowledge during learning

Learning theory describes how students receive, process, and retain knowledge during learning. Cognitive, emotional, and environmental influences, as well as prior experience, all play a part in how understanding, or a worldview, is acquired or changed and knowledge and skills retained.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jean Piaget</span> Swiss psychologist, biologist, logician, philosopher and academic (1896–1980)

Jean William Fritz Piaget was a Swiss psychologist known for his work on child development. Piaget's theory of cognitive development and epistemological view are together called genetic epistemology.

Social constructivism is a sociological theory of knowledge according to which human development is socially situated, and knowledge is constructed through interaction with others. Like social constructionism, social constructivism states that people work together to actively construct artifacts. But while social constructivism focuses on cognition, social constructionism focuses on the making of social reality.

Instructional scaffolding is the support given to a student by an instructor throughout the learning process. This support is specifically tailored to each student; this instructional approach allows students to experience student-centered learning, which tends to facilitate more efficient learning than teacher-centered learning. This learning process promotes a deeper level of learning than many other common teaching strategies.

In psychology, cognitivism is a theoretical framework for understanding the mind that gained credence in the 1950s. The movement was a response to behaviorism, which cognitivists said neglected to explain cognition. Cognitive psychology derived its name from the Latin cognoscere, referring to knowing and information, thus cognitive psychology is an information-processing psychology derived in part from earlier traditions of the investigation of thought and problem solving.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Constructivism (philosophy of science)</span> Branch in philosophy of science

Constructivism is a view in the philosophy of science that maintains that scientific knowledge is constructed by the scientific community, which seeks to measure and construct models of the natural world. According to constructivists, natural science consists of mental constructs that aim to explain sensory experiences and measurements, and that there is no single valid methodology in science but rather a diversity of useful methods. They also hold that the world is independent of human minds, but knowledge of the world is always a human and social construction. Constructivism opposes the philosophy of objectivism, embracing the belief that human beings can come to know the truth about the natural world not mediated by scientific approximations with different degrees of validity and accuracy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Student-centered learning</span> Methods of teaching

Student-centered learning, also known as learner-centered education, broadly encompasses methods of teaching that shift the focus of instruction from the teacher to the student. In original usage, student-centered learning aims to develop learner autonomy and independence by putting responsibility for the learning path in the hands of students by imparting to them skills, and the basis on how to learn a specific subject and schemata required to measure up to the specific performance requirement. Student-centered instruction focuses on skills and practices that enable lifelong learning and independent problem-solving. Student-centered learning theory and practice are based on the constructivist learning theory that emphasizes the learner's critical role in constructing meaning from new information and prior experience.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Early childhood education</span> The teaching of children from birth to age eight

Early childhood education (ECE), also known as nursery education, is a branch of education theory that relates to the teaching of children from birth up to the age of eight. Traditionally, this is up to the equivalent of third grade. ECE is described as an important period in child development.

The psychology of learning refers to theories and research on how individuals learn. There are many theories of learning. Some take on a more behaviorist approach which focuses on inputs and reinforcements. Other approaches, such as neuroscience and social cognition, focus more on how the brain's organization and structure influence learning. Some psychological approaches, such as social constructivism, focus more on one's interaction with the environment and with others. Other theories, such as those related to motivation, like the growth mindset, focus more on individuals' perceptions of ability.

Radical constructivism is an approach to epistemology that situates knowledge in terms of knowers' experience. It looks to break with the conception of knowledge as a correspondence between a knower's understanding of their experience and the world beyond that experience. Adopting a skeptical position towards correspondence as in principle impossible to verify because one cannot access the world beyond one's experience in order to test the relation, radical constructivists look to redefine epistemology in terms of the viability of knowledge within knowers' experience. This break from the traditional framing of epistemology differentiates it from "trivial" forms of constructivism that emphasise the role of the knower in constructing knowledge while maintaining the traditional perspective of knowledge in terms of correspondence. Radical constructivism has been described as a "post-epistemological" position.

Cognitive apprenticeship is a theory that emphasizes the importance of the process in which a master of a skill teaches that skill to an apprentice.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Constructionism (learning theory)</span> Learning theory involving the construction of mental models

Constructionist learning is the creation by learners of mental models to understand the world around them. Constructionism advocates student-centered, discovery learning where students use what they already know to acquire more knowledge. Students learn through participation in project-based learning where they make connections between different ideas and areas of knowledge facilitated by the teacher through coaching rather than using lectures or step-by-step guidance. Further, constructionism holds that learning can happen most effectively when people are active in making tangible objects in the real world. In this sense, constructionism is connected with experiential learning and builds on Jean Piaget's epistemological theory of constructivism.

Constructivist teaching is based on constructivism. Constructivist teaching is based on the belief that learning occurs as learners are actively involved in a process of meaning and knowledge construction as opposed to passively receiving information.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zone of proximal development</span> Difference between what a learner can do without help and what they can do with help

The zone of proximal development (ZPD) is a concept in educational psychology. It represents the space between what a learner is capable of doing unsupported and what the learner cannot do even with support. It is the range where the learner is able to perform, but only with support from a teacher or a peer with more knowledge or expertise. The concept was introduced, but not fully developed, by psychologist Lev Vygotsky (1896–1934) during the last three years of his life. Vygotsky argued that a child gets involved in a dialogue with the "more knowledgeable other", such as a peer or an adult, and gradually, through social interaction and sense-making, develops the ability to solve problems independently and do certain tasks without help. Following Vygotsky, some educators believe that the role of education is to give children experiences that are within their zones of proximal development, thereby encouraging and advancing their individual learning skills and strategies.

Inquiry-based learning is a form of active learning that starts by posing questions, problems or scenarios. It contrasts with traditional education, which generally relies on the teacher presenting facts and their knowledge about the subject. Inquiry-based learning is often assisted by a facilitator rather than a lecturer. Inquirers will identify and research issues and questions to develop knowledge or solutions. Inquiry-based learning includes problem-based learning, and is generally used in small-scale investigations and projects, as well as research. The inquiry-based instruction is principally very closely related to the development and practice of thinking and problem-solving skills.

In psychology, constructivism refers to many schools of thought that, though extraordinarily different in their techniques, are all connected by a common critique of previous standard approaches, and by shared assumptions about the active constructive nature of human knowledge. In particular, the critique is aimed at the "associationist" postulate of empiricism, "by which the mind is conceived as a passive system that gathers its contents from its environment and, through the act of knowing, produces a copy of the order of reality".

Genetic epistemology or 'developmental theory of knowledge' is a study of the origins (genesis) of knowledge (epistemology) established by Swiss psychologist Jean Piaget. This theory opposes traditional epistemology and unites constructivism and structuralism. Piaget took epistemology as the starting point and adopted the method of genetics, arguing that all knowledge of the child is generated through interaction with the environment.

Cognitive Emotional Pedagogy (CEP) is a method of teaching and learning based on cognitive psychology and constructivist learning theory which claims that construction and retention of new concepts and skills is most effective if the learning content is associated with creativity and emotionally distinct experiences. The theoretical framework was created by Joni Mäkivirta.

Constructivism has been considered as a dominant paradigm, or research programme, in the field of science education since the 1980s. The term constructivism is widely used in many fields, and not always with quite the same intention. This entry offers an account of how constructivism is most commonly understood in science education.

References

  1. White, Fiona Ann; Hayes, Brett Kenneth; Livesey, David James (2016). Developmental Psychology: From Infancy to Adulthood (4th ed.). Melbourne, Vic.: Pearson Australia. ISBN   9781486018277. OCLC   904034548.
  2. Bjorklund, David F. (1 November 2018). "A Metatheory for Cognitive Development (or "Piaget is Dead" Revisited)". Child Development. 89 (6): 2288–2302. doi:10.1111/cdev.13019. PMID   29336015. Archived from the original on 14 August 2021. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
  3. Steffe, Leslie P.; Gale, Jerry (2012). Constructivism in Education. Oxon: Routledge. ISBN   978-1-136-47608-2.
  4. 1 2 Seifert, Kelvin & Sutton, Rosemary. Educational Psychology: Second Edition Archived 29 August 2017 at the Wayback Machine . Global Text Project, 2009, pp. 33–37.
  5. Piaget, J., Psychology and Epistemology: Towards a Theory of Knowledge (New York: Grossman, 1971).
  6. Lave, Jean; Wenger, Etienne (27 September 1991). Situated Learning: Legitimate Peripheral Participation. Cambridge University Press. ISBN   978-0-521-42374-8.[ page needed ]
  7. 1 2 3 4 Brown, J.S.; Collins, A.; Duguid, P. (1989). "Situated cognition and the culture of learning". Educational Researcher. 18 (1): 32–42. doi:10.3102/0013189x018001032. hdl: 2142/17979 . S2CID   9824073.[ permanent dead link ]
  8. Newman, Denis; Griffin, Peg; Cole, Michael (28 April 1989). The Construction Zone: Working for Cognitive Change in School. Cambridge University Press. ISBN   978-0-521-38942-6.[ page needed ]
  9. Rogoff, Barbara (1990). Apprenticeship in thinking: cognitive development in social context. Oxford University Press.[ page needed ]
  10. Eddy, Matthew Daniel (2004). "Fallible or Inerrant? A Belated review of the "Constructivist Bible"". British Journal for the History of Science. 37: 93–8. doi:10.1017/s0007087403005338. S2CID   141028650. Archived from the original on 14 August 2021. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
  11. Carey, Susan; Zaitchik, Deborah; Bascandziev, Igor (1 December 2015). "Theories of development: In dialog with Jean Piaget". Developmental Review. 38: 36–54. doi: 10.1016/j.dr.2015.07.003 . ISSN   0273-2297.
  12. Tobias, S.; Duffy, T. M. (2009). Constructivist instruction: Success or failure?. New York: Taylor & Francis. ISBN   9780415994231.
  13. 1 2 Wertsch, James V. (1997). Vygotsky and the social formation of mind. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard Univ. Press. OCLC   489891986.
  14. 1 2 Von Glasersfeld, Ernst (1998). "Cognition, Construction of Knowledge, and Teaching" (PDF). Constructivism in Science Education. Springer, Dordrecht. pp. 11–30. ISBN   978-0-7923-4924-2. Archived (PDF) from the original on 16 May 2017. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
  15. 1 2 Prawat, Richard S.; Floden, Robert E. (1 January 1994). "Philosophical perspectives on constructivist views of learning". Educational Psychologist. 29 (1): 37–48. doi:10.1207/s15326985ep2901_4. ISSN   0046-1520. Archived from the original on 14 August 2021. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 Vygotsky, L. S.; Cole, Michael (1978). Mind in Society: Development of Higher Psychological Processes . Harvard University Press. ISBN   978-0-674-57629-2.
  17. Bauersfeld, H. (1995). "'Language games' in the mathematics classroom: Their function and their effects". In Cobb, Paul; Bauersfeld, H. (eds.). The emergence of mathematical meaning: interaction in classroom cultures. Hillsdale, N.J.: L. Erlbaum Associates. ISBN   0-8058-1728-X. OCLC   31436489.
  18. Gamoran, Adam; Secada, Walter G.; Marrett, Cora B. (2000). "The Organizational Context of Teaching and Learning" (PDF). In Hallinan, M.T. (ed.). Handbook of the Sociology of Education. Handbooks of Sociology and Social Research. Springer, Boston, MA. pp. 37–63. ISBN   978-0-387-32517-0. Archived (PDF) from the original on 31 January 2018. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
  19. 1 2 Brownstein, Bonnie (22 December 2001). "Collaboration: the foundation of learning in the future". Education. 122 (2).
  20. Rhodes, Lynn K.; Bellamy, G. Thomas (1 January 1999). "Choices and Consequences in the Renewal of Teacher Education". Journal of Teacher Education. 50 (1): 17–26. doi:10.1177/002248719905000103. ISSN   0022-4871. S2CID   143182193.
  21. 1 2 3 Di Vesta, Francis J. (1987). "The Cognitive Movement and Education". Historical Foundations of Educational Psychology. Perspectives on Individual Differences. Boston: Springer. pp. 203–233. doi:10.1007/978-1-4899-3620-2_11. ISBN   978-1-4899-3622-6.
  22. 1 2 Holt, Dan G.; Willard-Holt, Colleen (1 November 2000). "Let's Get Real™: Students Solving Authentic Corporate Problems". Phi Delta Kappan. 82 (3): 243–246. doi:10.1177/003172170008200315. ISSN   0031-7217. S2CID   143466659.
  23. 1 2 3 4 McMahon, M. (December 1997). Social Constructivism and the World Wide Web – A Paradigm for Learning. Australasian Society for Computers in Learning in Tertiary Education 1997 conference. Vol. 327. Perth.
  24. 1 2 Savery, Lawson K. (1 June 1994). "The Influence of the Perceived Styles of Leadership on a Group of Workers on their Attitudes to Work". Leadership & Organization Development Journal. 15 (4): 12–18. doi:10.1108/01437739410059863. ISSN   0143-7739.
  25. Archee, Ray; Hill Duin, DA (1995). The World Wide Web and Distance Education: Congergenece or Cacophony?. AUUG Conference Proceedings. AUUG, Inc. pp. 348–356. Archived from the original on 14 August 2021. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
  26. Bruning, Roger H.; Schraw, Gregory J.; Ronning, Royce R. (1999). Cognitive Psychology and Instruction (3rd ed.). Prentice-Hall, Inc. ISBN   978-0-13-716606-0.
  27. Meter, Peggy Van; Stevens, Robert J. (1 January 2000). "The Role of Theory in the Study of Peer Collaboration". The Journal of Experimental Education. 69 (1): 113–127. doi:10.1080/00220970009600652. ISSN   0022-0973. S2CID   143292199.
  28. Greeno, James G; Collins, Allan M; Resnick, Lauren B (1996). "Cognition and learning". Handbook of Educational Psychology. 77: 15–46.
  29. 1 2 3 4 Ackerman, Phillip L. (1 March 1996). "A theory of adult intellectual development: Process, personality, interests, and knowledge". Intelligence. 22 (2): 227–257. doi:10.1016/S0160-2896(96)90016-1. ISSN   0160-2896.
  30. Hsu, Liwei (2013). "English as a foreign language learners' perception of mobile assisted language learning: a cross-national study". Computer Assisted Language Learning. 26 (3). Taylor & Francis online: 197–213. doi:10.1080/09588221.2011.649485. S2CID   62711257.
  31. Ernest, Paul (1991). The philosophy of mathematics education. London: Falmer Press. ISBN   0-203-22423-X. OCLC   52100009.
  32. 1 2 3 Duffy, Thomas; Jonassen, eds. (1992). Constructivism and the Technology of Instruction: A Conversation. Hillsdale, New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. ISBN   978-0-8058-1272-5.[ page needed ]
  33. Derry, Sharon J. (2014). "A Fish Called Peer Learning: Searching for Common Themes". In O'Donnell, Angela M.; King, Alison (eds.). Cognitive Perspectives on Peer Learning. Hoboken: Taylor and Francis. ISBN   978-1-4106-0371-5. OCLC   881162577.
  34. Woolfolk, Anita (2010). Educational psychology (11th ed.). Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Merrill. ISBN   978-0-13-714454-9. OCLC   268547518.
  35. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Kirschner, P. A.; Sweller, J.; Clark, R. E. (2006). "Why minimal guidance during instruction does not work: an analysis of the failure of constructivist, discovery, problem-based, experiential, and inquiry-based teaching". Educational Psychologist . 41 (2): 75–86. doi:10.1207/s15326985ep4102_1. hdl:1820/8951. S2CID   17067829. Archived from the original on 14 August 2021. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
  36. Anderson, John R.; Reder, Lynne M.; Simon, Herbert A. (1998). Applications and misapplications of cognitive psychology in mathematics education. Archived from the original on 8 September 2011. Retrieved 4 February 2007.
  37. Constructivism in Science and Mathematics Education Archived 18 November 2009 at the Wayback Machine , Michael R. Matthews
  38. Research Link / Caution: Constructivism Ahead Archived 27 April 2006 at the Wayback Machine Holloway, Educational Leadership, 57 (3). November 1999.
  39. Liu, Charlotte Hua; Matthews, Robert (9 July 2005). "Vygotsky's Philosophy: Constructivism and Its Criticisms Examined" (PDF). International Education Journal. 6 (3): 386–99. ISSN   1443-1475. ERIC   EJ854992. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 August 2021.
  40. Demetriou, A. (1998). Cognitive development. In A. Demetriou, W. Doise, K. F. M. van Lieshout (Eds.), Life-span developmental psychology (pp. 179–269). London: Wiley.
  41. Demetriou, A., Shayer, M., & Efklides, A. (1992). Neo-Piagetian theories of cognitive development: Implications and applications to education. London: Routledge
  42. 1 2 3 Mayer (2004). "Should There Be a Three-Strikes Rule Against Pure Discovery Learning?" (PDF). American Psychologist. 59 (1): 14–19. CiteSeerX   10.1.1.372.2476 . doi:10.1037/0003-066x.59.1.14. PMID   14736316. S2CID   1129364. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 February 2015. Retrieved 29 December 2007.
  43. Sweller, J (June 1988). "Cognitive load during problem solving: Effects on learning". Cognitive Science. 12 (2): 257–285. doi: 10.1016/0364-0213(88)90023-7 . ISSN   0364-0213.
  44. Slezak, Peter (2010). "Radical Constructivism: Epistemology, Education and Dynamite". Constructivist Foundations. 6 (1). ISSN   1782-348X.
  45. Meyer, D. L. (2009). "The Poverty of Constructivism". Educational Philosophy and Theory. 41 (3): 332–341. doi:10.1111/j.1469-5812.2008.00457.x. S2CID   144604333.
  46. 1 2 DeVries, Rheta, ed. (2002). Developing constructivist early childhood curriculum: practical principles and activities. Early childhood education series. New York: Teachers College Press. ISBN   978-0-8077-4121-4.
  47. Cobern, William (April 1991). "Contextual Constructivism: The Impact of Culture on the Learning and Teaching of Science". Theoretical Bases for Science Education Research.
  48. von Glasersfeld, Ernst (1995). Radical Constructivism: A Way of Knowing and Learning. Studies in Mathematics Education Series, no. 6. London: Falmer Press. ISBN   0-7507-0387-3. OCLC   52130078. ERIC   ED381352.
  49. von Glasersfeld, Ernst (1990). "Chapter 2: An Exposition of Constructivism: Why Some Like It Radical". Journal for Research in Mathematics Education: Monograph. 4. National Council of Teachers of Mathematics: 19–29, 195–210. doi:10.2307/749910. ISSN   0883-9530. JSTOR   749910.
  50. Gash, H. (15 July 2014). "Constructing Constructivism". Constructivist Foundations. 9 (3): 302–310.
  51. See Björn Kraus: The Life We Live and the Life We Experience: Introducing the Epistemological Difference between "Lifeworld" (Lebenswelt) and "Life Conditions" (Lebenslage) Social Work and Society. International Online Journal. Vol. 13, No. 2 2015, http://www.socwork.net/sws/article/view/438 Archived 13 April 2019 at the Wayback Machine ; Björn Kraus: Plädoyer für den Relationalen Konstruktivismus und eine Relationale Soziale Arbeit. in Forum Sozial (2017) 1 pp. 29–35, http://www.ssoar.info/ssoar/handle/document/51948 Archived 1 August 2020 at the Wayback Machine
  52. Wood, David (1998). How Children Think and Learn. Understanding children's worlds (2nd ed.). Oxford, UK: Blackwell. pp.  39. ISBN   978-0-631-20007-9.
  53. Leask, M., and Younie, S. (2001a) 'Communal Constructivist Theory: pedagogy of information and communications technology & internationalisation of the curriculum', Journal of Information Technology for Teacher Education, Vol. 10, Nos 1 & 2, pp117 –134
  54. Younie, S.; Leask, M. (2001b). "The European SchoolNet: An online community for European teachers? A valuable professional resource?". Teacher Development. 5 (2): 157–172. doi: 10.1080/13664530100200140 . S2CID   145109452. Archived from the original on 15 August 2016. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
  55. Holmes, Bryan; Tangney, Brendan; FitzGibbon, Ann; Savage, Tim; Mehan, Siobhan. "Communal Constructivism: Students constructing learning for as well as with others" (PDF). Trinity College. Archived (PDF) from the original on 27 February 2021. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
  56. Sarkar, Advait (1 January 2016). Constructivist Design for Interactive Machine Learning. Proceedings of the 2016 CHI Conference Extended Abstracts on Human Factors in Computing Systems. New York: ACM. pp. 1467–1475. doi:10.1145/2851581.2892547. ISBN   9781450340823. S2CID   1949678.
  57. Nowak, Markus; Castellini, Claudio; Massironi, Carlo (2018). "Applying Radical Constructivism to machine learning: a pilot study in assistive robotics". Constructivist Foundations. 13 (2): 250–262. Archived from the original on 21 February 2019. Retrieved 20 February 2019.

Further reading