Constructivism

1
Constructivism

• The Search for Truth Viability

2
Grounding Assumptions

• Learning is an active process of constructing
  knowledge rather than acquiring it.
• Instruction is primarily a process of supporting
  construction rather than communicating knowledge

3
Epistemology (Knowing)

• Each of us can know only what we have personally
  constructed.
• We cannot know in any complete sense what
  someone else has constructed.

4
Validity

• Not How well does this knowledge, understanding,
  explanation match reality?
• i.e. Truth
• But How does this knowledge, understanding,
  explanation affect my view of the world or my
  commitments to it?
• i.e. Viability

5
Communication/Meaning

• Seek compatibility, lack of contradiction.
• Probe to find where or if our understandings
  begin to diverge.
• Implications
• Do not assume we must have common meaning, rather
  seek to grasp different views.
• Do not seek to transmit knowledge, rather seek to
  understand and challenge learners thinking.

6
Constructivism is not Constructivism

• Individual Cognitive emphasizes the constructive
  activity of the individual as he or she tries to
  make sense of the world.
• Sociocultural emphasizes the socially and
  culturally situated context of cognition
  learning is acculturation.

7
Comparison Table