C onstructivism

1. Constructivism Learning process Joan Taylor Constructivism 23/3/11

2. “Learning is the process of adjusting our mental models to accommodate new experiences.” Joan Taylor Constructivism 23/3/11

3. Meaning Humans naturally try to understand their world and to develop skills to succeed on their world. We construct ideas of how the world is, of how machines work, of how foods respond to processes and mixtures, of how students respond to teaching methods. These are foundations. Joan Taylor Constructivism 23/3/11

4. When an infant plays with blocks they endeavour to master dexterity, but they also come to an intuitive appreciation of building structures, weight distribution, gravity. Of course they could not explain these concepts at this age. Joan Taylor Constructivism 23/3/11

5. Attainable • Constructivists argue that learning will occur just beyond what the learner already knows Vygotsky's Zone of Proximal Development Learning occurs Existing Knowledge Unattainable Joan Taylor Constructivism 23/3/11

6. Problem solving • We seek to overcome problems. Joan Taylor Constructivism 23/3/11

7. Structure • Our learning is the discovery of the intrinsic concepts and skills of a subject. When we try something new or encounter something different that doesn’t fit into our understanding of the world or of our subject we rework our theories, or look for new information that will explain the new material. Joan Taylor Constructivism 23/3/11

8. Transferability • Through experiment, practice, projects we can hone those generic principles and skills Joan Taylor Constructivism 23/3/11

9. Social • Learning is social because it is the understanding of our world and humans naturally try to learn from others. • The Knowledgeable Other is the person we look to so that we can learn the skills, attitudes that we seek. This may be the teacher, it may also be peers, family, great thinkers, famous or infamous persons Joan Taylor Constructivism 23/3/11

10. Relevant • Our understanding of the subject will be enhanced if it is relevant to our need. • Our understanding will be influenced by our culture Joan Taylor Constructivism 23/3/11

11. Self Assessment • “Constructivism calls for the elimination of grades and standardized testing. Instead, assessment becomes part of the learning process so that students play a larger role in judging their own progress.” Joan Taylor Constructivism 23/3/11

12. Principles • For the learning process to proceed the student must be engaged and ready to learn • Learning can only occur in the immediate zone beyond what is already known • Learning is the process of seeking mastery of the basic principles and skills of a subject to enable transferability Joan Taylor Constructivism 23/3/11

13. Scaffolding • When we have a sound grasp of the basics, it allows us to explain or work with new things that haven't come our way before. • Strong foundations will enable the learner to go beyond or in a different direction once they have left the classroom. Joan Taylor Constructivism 23/3/11

14. The Spiral Curriculum • The teacher introduces the • basic concepts of a subject • early with the first activities • and then keeps returning to • them whilst making the • activities more complex. Joan Taylor Constructivism 23/3/11

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16. Beyond your classroom • They will also have the confidence to say this theory doesn’t work in this situation I wonder what would explain this? The learner will have the skills to keep learning. • They have not been simply taught facts. They have experienced the process of learning Joan Taylor Constructivism 23/3/11

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18. Bibliography • http://www.funderstanding.com/content/constructivism retrieved 18/3/2011 • http://www.simplypsychology.org/vygotsky.html • http://tip.psychology.org/bruner.html • http://www.gtce.org.uk/tla/rft/bruner0506/ • http://tip.psychology.org/bruner.html Joan Taylor Constructivism 23/3/11

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