Constructivism:Knowledge Construction/Concept

Learning

WHAT IS CONSTRUCTIVISM? It is a theory on how humans generate knowledge and

meaning from an interaction between their experiences and their ideas.

Based on observation and scientific study about how people learn

It says that people construct their own understanding and knowledge of the world, through experiencing things and reflecting on those experiences

Constructivism is a view of learning based on the belief that knowledge isn't a thing that can be simply given by the teacher at the front of the room to students in their desks. Rather, knowledge is constructed by learners through an active, mental process of development; learners are the builders and creators of meaning and knowledge.

In the classroom, the constructivist view of learning can point towards a number of different teaching practices. In the most general sense, it usually means encouraging students to use active techniques (experiments, real-world problem solving) to create more knowledge and then to reflect on and talk about what they are doing and how their understanding is changing. The teacher makes sure she understands the students' preexisting conceptions, and guides the activity to address them and then build on them.

ConstructivismViews of

Constructivism

Individual Constructivism

Social Constructivism

Characteristics of

Constructivism Organizing Knowledge

How did constructivism come about?

Vygotsky believed that learning needs to be engaging.  Vygotsky believed that learning takes place as children are interacting with each other and exploring their environment. He believed that learning is simultaneous to social interaction and exploration. In other words, he did not feel as though one was more important than the other.

Lev Semyonovich Vygotsky November 17, 1896 – June 11, 1934

Jean Piaget9 August 1896 – 16 September 1980

Piaget believed that children learn through organization and schemas. He believed that by organizing concepts and ideas, children place them into schemas. He believed that children are in control of the knowledge that they are provided and move forward in construct their own learning by taking part in social activities and exploration

Jean Piaget - The learner is advanced through three mechanisms

According to Jean Piaget  the three mechanisms used are: 1. Assimilation - fitting a new experience into an existing mental structure(schema). 2. Accommodation - revising an existing schema because of new experience. 3. Equilibrium - seeking cognitive stability through assimilation and accommodation

Lev Vygotsky - associated with the social constructivist theory

1. Making meaning - the community places a central role, and the people around the student greatly affect the way he or she sees the world. 2. Tools for cognitive development - the type and quality of these tools (culture, language, important adults to the student) determine the pattern and rate of development. 3. The Zone of Proximal Development - problem solving skills of tasks can be placed into three categories:1. Those performed independently by the learner. 2. Those that cannot be performed even with help. 3. Those that fall between the two extremes, the tasks that

can be performed with help from others.

Two Views of ConstructivismIndividual Constructivism – this is called cognitive constructivism. It emphasizes individual, internal construction of knowledge.

Social Constructivism – this view emphasizes that knowledge exists in a social context and is initially shared with others instead of being represented solely in the mind of an individual

Constructivism is a learning theory

Learning is an active process in which the learner uses sensory input and constructs meaning out of it.

People learn to learn as they learn.

The crucial action of constructing meaning is mental.

Learning involves language.

Learning is a social activity.

Learning is contextual.

One needs knowledge to learn.

It takes time to learn.

Motivation is a key component in learning.

Characteristics of Constructivism 1. Learners construct understanding

Learners as active thinkers who interpret new information based on what they already know.

2. New learning depends on current understanding 3. Learning is facilitated by social interaction

Believes in creating a community of learners within classrooms4. Meaningful learning occurs within authentic learning

task Involves constructing knowledge and understanding that

is so akin to the knowledge and understanding needed when applied in the real world

Organizing KnowledgeConcept – A concept is a way of grouping or categorizing objects or events in our mind. It includes a group of tasks such as model, discuss, illustrate, explain, assist, etc.

Concepts as Feature Lists A defining feature is a characteristic present in ALL

instances.EX: A triangle has 3 sides. Having 3 sides is a defining feature of a triangle since ALL triangles have 3 sides. A correlation feature is one that is present in many

positive instances but not essential for concept membership

EX: A mother is loving. being loving is a common feature present in the concept. But a mother may not be loving.

Concepts as Prototypes A prototype is an idea or a visual image of a “typical”

example.EX: Thinking of a fruit that has a red colour. Usually people would think of an apple instead of a cherry.

Concepts as Exemplars Represents a variety of examples. It allows learners to

know that an example under a concept may have variability.

EX: A learner’s concept of vegetable may include a wide variety of diferent examples like cauliflower, kangkong, string beans, etc. When he encounters

a new type of vegetable like “bistuelas”, he would search from the exemplars he knows and looks for one that is similar, like string beans.

Examples of Concepts Concrete concepts have aspects or dimensions that are

easily seen, heard, or touched. Fruit would be an example of a concrete concept due to its tangible characteristics of being seed-associated, fleshy, and plant-derived.

Semi-concrete concepts have some combination of concrete and non-concrete characteristics. Take the semi-concrete concept of a politician, for instance. Some characteristics of a politician could be concrete, such as a holder or candidate for an elected office. However, other characteristics may not be as concrete, such as one who serves the public.

Abstract concepts do not have many (if any) absolute characteristics that are easy to comprehend with the senses. Unlike concrete and semi-concrete concepts, abstract concepts are not explained by a list of well-defined rules or characteristics. More often, they are understood by mental images or beliefs about its characteristics. Love would be a good example of an abstract concept, as the characteristics of love might differ from one person to the next.

CONCEPTS vs. TOPICS Fruit – Apple, Banana, Tomato Transportation – Car, Train, Bicycle Politician – President, Mayor, Bob Dole Love – Mother & Child, Patriotism, Forgiveness Change – Weather, The Civil War, Growing Older Culture – Native Americans, Christmas, The Glass

Ceiling

Making Concept-learning Effective Provide clear definitions of the concept Make the defining features very concrete and prominent Give a variety of positive instances Cite a “best example” or a prototype Provide opportunity for learners to identify positive and

negative instances Ask learners to think of their own example of the concept Point out how concepts can be related to each other

Schemas and ScriptsA schema is an organized body of knowledge

about something. It is like a file of information you hold in your mind about something.

A script is a schema that includes a series of predictable events about a specific activity

Applying Constructivism in Facilitating Learning Aim to make learners understand a few key ideas in an in-

depth manner, rather than taking up so many topics specifically.

Give varied examples. Provide opportunities for experimentation Provide lots of opportunities for quality interaction. Have lots of hands-on activities Relate your topic to real life situations Do not depend on the explanation method all the time

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING~!