Constructivist or Constructionist it all sounds as though I am getting ready to build a house. This would not be a successful journey for me due to the fact that I am the anti Bob Villa. Just the other day I successfully installed gas shocks on my storm door and I was excited. Alright, enough about my carpentry skills, and more talk about the Constructionist learning theory. Ultimately, there are six basic tasks that can be done through using the Constructionist method. They range from problem solving, to historical investigation, inquiry, and decision making to name a few (Laureate, 2010). By using these tasks students are able to have original thoughts and then they are able to explore those thoughts.
An example of a lesson that I use in my junior U.S. History classroom that uses the Constructionist theory is testing a hypothesis over the Boston Massacre. I have students use prior knowledge about the massacre and have them develop a hypothesis explaining the motive behind the British soldiers opening fire on Boston
This lesson is one of the more powerful and interactive lessons for many of my students. They are able to give a hypothesis, historically investigate, analyze different sources of information, and then synthesize all of the information by making a determination of the merits of the original hypothesis. The lesson usually ends with a lively debate between students who have the same information, but have come to different conclusions.
The Constructionist learning theory does have its drawbacks. Some students initially struggle with the freedom this learning theory provides. Students are in the lead with their own learning and teachers act as guides. This is great, but some students thrive on the structure a “normal” classroom provides.
Resource:
Laureate Education,Inc. (Executive Producer). (2010)/ Program seven. Constructionist and constructivist learning theories [Webcast}. Bridging learning theory, instruction and technology. Baltimore, MD. Author
Illini Teacher,
ReplyDeleteWhy does the "normal" teacher have to be one that doesn't teach using the constructionist theory of learning? If we begin to implement more lessons/units that reflect the constructionist theory of learning perhaps this will become the "normal" and our students will be critically thinkers, problem solvers, analyzers, etc. It is my opinion that these are the types of workers that employers are looking for. We must work to teach our students how to create their own structure when given a choice.
~Kristi~
I really like your lesson that you have created, which very closely resembles project-based learning. Orey (2001) insists that project-based learning involves research, synthesis of information, and a final performance or product that the student has created or is involved in. It seems as though this project motivates students to take charge of their own learning which is
ReplyDeleteexactly what constructionist learning theories focus on!
Orey, M. (Ed.). (2001). Emerging perspectives on learning, teaching, and technology. Retrieved from http://projects.coe.uga.edu/epltt/index.php?title=Main_Page