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Five elements of constructivist approach to teaching
Five elements of constructivist approach to teaching
Five elements of constructivist approach to teaching
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Throughout chapter 2 of Developing Constructivist Early Childhood Curriculum, DeVries discuss many different aspects of constructivist teaching. All of these qualities promote an inquiry-based approach in the classroom. I will further discuss a few of these qualities and how they relate/promote constructivist teaching in an inquiry-based classroom. For example, an inquiry-based classroom must be teacher and child interest based, it must revolve around big ideas, and it must include reflection time planned into the day for children. To begin, we as teachers must appeal to children’s interests when creating a successful classroom. These means all activities that are planned in the classroom should be based on not only the teacher’s interest, but also …show more content…
This means we include reflection time that is planned into the day. Also, simply giving children enough time to explore or complete an activity is extremely important. Along with this, we need to provide time for children to go back and revisit topics multiple times. Providing more time leads to children thinking more in-depth about things and asking more important questions about the topic they are studying. This promotes an inquiry-based classroom because constructivist teachers recognize that children need ample time to think about certain topics and that learning is more of a drawn-out process. In conclusion, chapter 2 of Developing Constructivist Early Childhood Curriculum, DeVries discuss many different characteristics of constructivist teaching. All of which promote an inquiry-based approach in classrooms. I think it’s extremely important to offer ample time to students to complete an interest. Also, to challenge them and cater to the student’s interests, but also our own interests as teachers. Overall, constructivist teachers are very successful and I hope to bring this type of work into my classroom in the
Learning, “as an interpretive, recursive, building process by active learners”, interrelates with the physical and social world (Fosnot, 1996). “Assuming the role as ‘guide on the side’ requires teachers to step off the stage, relinquish some of their power, and release the textbooks to allow their students to be actively engaged and take some responsibility of their own learning” (WhiteClark, DiCarlo, & Gilchriest, 2008, p. 44). Furthermore, constructivism involves developing the student as a learner through cooperative learning, experimentation, and open-ended problems in which students learn on their own through active participation with concepts and principles (Kearsley,
Von Glaserfield (1990) acknowledged that constructivism means “knowledge is not passively received.” Piaget (1973) stated that students are not just “empty heads” that can be filled with facts from packaged curriculum that is given out my teachers. Constructivism does not depend on a standardized curriculum. Instead, it promotes using curriculum customized to the students’ prior knowledge. Also, it emphasizes real world problem solving, experiments, reasoning and communication (Au & Carrol , 1997). Constructivism gives students the power to make connections, reformulate ideas, and reach conclusions (Brewer & Daane, 2002). After school programs often focus on teac...
As opposed to 19th century teaching practices, where the teacher was seen as the source of all knowledge and had the responsibility of passing that knowledge on to children, teachers using the inquiry approach have the role of facilitating an environment where children can construct their own learning (Reynolds, 2012). In the inquiry based approach, the teacher goes on the learning journey alongside the children and the focus is not on what is being taught, but rather on the learning process (Murdoch, 1998). Additionally, learning is relevant and meaningful in children’s lives and connected to their current funds of knowledge and other areas of the curriculum (Arthur, Beecher, Death, Dockett & Farmer, 2015; Bateman, 2014). One benefit of the inquiry process, is that it promotes a variety of skills which are vital for children in the 21st century. Because of the rapid progress in technology, teachers have no way of knowing the skills students will need in their future jobs. Therefore, the main things students need to learn are how to learn and how to think. The skills developed during the inquiry process include information processing skills, critical and creative thinking skills, communication skills and reflective and metacognitive skills (Reynolds, 2012). Mastering these skills will equip students with the abilities they will need in the future to
This practise of effective teaching and learning has relatively new in classrooms but has already made a great difference in the students’ abilities and interests both in and out of their studies. Constructivist teaching recognises and validates the student’s point of view rather then the necessity of a correct answer. The child is then able to reassess their knowledge and understandings, which in turn boosts self-esteem and confidence. It also encourages children to be involved in classroom activities by self-questioning, seeking answers, comparing situations and establishing links between different ideas. This is possible as constructive learning is transferable between different ideas. (Tutorial Notes, 28th July, 2004)
Baviskar, S. N., Hartle, R., & Whitney, T. (2009). Essential Criteria to Characterize Constructivist Teaching: Derived from a review of the literature and applied to five constructivist-teaching method articles. International Journal Of Science Education, 31(4), 541-550. doi:10.1080/09500690701731121
As a teacher I believe that the most effective way to teach children is teaching through play and example by using pictures and gestures. Children are motivated to learn when they have opportunities to make choices in an environment that are inspiring and stimulating. Children are interested from infancy and have a desire to learn from their environment and those around them. When children are encouraged to interact with their peers and adults in positive ways, they feel safe to explore their surroundings. I as teacher have the opportunity to nurture and educate my students on all levels, making sure that my students are being taught developmentally appropriate
This article talks about how teachers use the constructivism theory in a special needs classroom and are able to engage students who might otherwise not be engaged. The author writes how teachers use constructivism in special needs classrooms effectively. Most of the examples within the article relate to children with special needs, although there were a few examples of use in a mainstream classroom. In the article it talks about the need for teachers to let the students initiate conversations within the classroom and also allow students more time to answer questions posed in class. The author explains how the conversation can flow uninterrupted by the teacher and the students gain ideas from other students while conversing. Teachers also encourage
constructivist education.blogspot (2006) This can only be achieved by implementing that learning by doing approach and developing new skills and having the chance to use them and practice therm.
Pro: By using a constructivist approach to teaching, students will be “fully engaged in their own learning” (Rhinehart Neas). This allows the students to make sense of what they are doing by relating it to the real world and where they could use the information in their future.
Based on my letter, I feel constructivism is reflected through my teaching style. In the reading Constructivism--Developing Tools for an Effective Classroom, social constructivism is described as interaction with teachers and peers to come to understanding about a concept. This reflects in my teaching style because I am willing to offer my time and support to help my students understand what they are learning. I also mention in my letter that I want students to work and play together to enjoy their time in afterschool care. However, I feel I need to allow more social constructivism with student interaction to take place in my classroom. It is important to allow students to have discussions and debates about the topics they are learning, because each child has a different grasp on a concept other students may be able to make sense of a lesson if it is explained by another child. I believe it is important to allow a constructive environment because I want my students to interact with one another to see if they are able to find possible solutions to problems.
The Constructivist Theory of child development believes that learning is hierarchical. When teaching the child, new learning needs to connect to prior learning. Learning is sequential in nature. Human beings need to link new information to knowledge that is already established in memory (as cited by Feinstein, 2006).
Reigeluth and David Merrill that coined the learner plays an active rather than passive role in learning. They view the learner as the information processor, similar to a computer. The learner builds a connection between different pieces of data to form an entire idea (Herman, 1995). The key to consider in this theory are computer related, internet, individual or paired student research and experiments, free play or uninterrupted exploration in a controlled environment, and hands-on activities. The instructors are fortunate to have such information readily accessible for them to utilize. The article titled Humanistic Influence on a Constructivist Approach To Teaching and Learning serves as a reference for constructivist theory. The learning experience presented in this article applies to both the teachers and the students. The examples of how the teacher presented the activity to the student and how the students interpreted and responded to the data was interesting, this lead the teacher to reflect on teaching methods along with
Educators as a whole have begun to stray away from solely utilizing traditional teaching approaches as new technology and science concepts demand that teaching approaches change with the times. (Zeynup & Alipasa, 2012) Further, allowing students to take control of their own learning and explore their world is of more relevance to the students than a traditional approach. (Garbett, 2011) By using constructivism, students may see the relevance of the science concepts they are learning, which may in turn inspire interest in science itself. (Milner, Templin & Czerniak, 2011) By using a constructivist approach in science classrooms, the students may gain a deeper understanding of science concepts, and students may take that knowledge and apply it to their career paths, their community, and their world. (Yager, Lim & Yager, 2006)
Constructivism is the base of much educational practice at the current time, although many teachers may not be aware of the theories themselves. It is, however, useful for understanding the way in which a child may progress educationally, which is important when supporting a child to succeed. Constructivism can also be very useful for helping to identify the next stages of progress for the individual, and can also help to identify when success has been attained. In addition, child-centred learning is said to improve motivation, peer collaboration, and behaviour in the
Information processing focuses on learning from the outside in. In constructivism, the learner constructs knowledge as they “actively impose organization and meaning on the surrounding environment” RD 40. They actively attempt to create meaning. The learning theory started to gain popularity in the 1940’s with Piaget. Lev Vygotsky was also a major influence and contributed to an iteration called social constructivism. Social constructivism emphasizes that learning is collaborative in nature. Taken together, constructivism and social constructivism focus on student-centered instructional strategies, active collaborative learning, and increased student engagement (Sivec 8). Proponents of constructivism focus on the active role learners can take in discovery and learning in meaningful contexts. Those against these principles focus more on the need to teach to the test, as well as how constructivist principles may not be best for all learners. In a 2010 study, Overbay, Patterson, Vasu, and Grable focus on the increased belief in constructivist principles and how that relates to classroom technology and it’s ever increasing presence in the classroom. In an authentic constructivist environment, they assert that technology should be “utilized in such a way that it engages students and pushes them to make deeper connections with the material under study, to generate meaning, rather than