{"id":2640,"date":"2019-10-09T17:44:30","date_gmt":"2019-10-09T21:44:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sites.miamioh.edu\/edt431-531\/?p=2640"},"modified":"2019-10-13T13:02:57","modified_gmt":"2019-10-13T17:02:57","slug":"a-better-classroom-with-constructivism","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.miamioh.edu\/exemplary-science-teaching\/2019\/10\/a-better-classroom-with-constructivism\/","title":{"rendered":"A Better Classroom with Constructivism"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Are you teaching your students in the way they learn best? If you aren’t using Constructivism then the answer is no<\/strong>!!! <\/p>\n\n\n

In their article 2001 “The Many Forms of Constructivism”, Purdue professors George Bodner and Micheal Klobuchar discuss the idea of Constructivism and the varying types of Constructivism<\/p>\n\n\n

What is Constructivism?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
  • Educational theory about how people learn<\/li>
  • People construct knowledge through past experiences<\/li>
  • Add to and correct prior knowledge<\/li>
  • Active way of learning<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
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    Which do you think is an example of Constructivism?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    One of these teaching methods is easier for the teacher. But the other is much more beneficial for the student! Which do you think is best?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Types of Constructivism<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
    • Traditional Constructivism<\/strong>– Schema are formed from an early age and then adapted as new knowledge is constructed<\/li>
    • Personal Constructivism<\/strong>– The construction of knowledge is done by individuals to meet their owns needs<\/li>
    • Radical Constructivism<\/strong>– Knowledge is not passive, the goal of cognition is to organize our experiences in the world and make then meaningful<\/li>
    • Social Constructivism<\/strong>– Social effects and language may modify the knowledge constructed by an individual<\/li>
    • Critical Constructivism<\/strong>– Teaching and learning are socially constructed<\/li>
    • Contextual Constructivism<\/strong>– Culture has an effect on the development and organization of an individual’s thoughts<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
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      Important Things to Consider<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
      • Students have a wealth of previous knowledge that will be essential to their learning<\/li>
      • Not all students have common previous knowledge<\/li>
      • Students may have different previous knowledge then you have\/had<\/li>
      • Not all previous knowledge will be strictly academic related, but it ALL<\/strong> can be applied in the classroom<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
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        Examples of Constructivism in the Classroom<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

        Constructivism in the classroom can truly enrich students learning and provide them with a more interesting learning environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        • Allow students to demonstrate their understanding of motion through a project about their favorite sport<\/li>
        • Provide photographs at the beginning of a lesson and have a discuss about them with students<\/li>
        • Relate your lesson to pop culture<\/li>
        • Get to know your students interests and allow them to use these as basis for research and projects<\/li>
        • Give students open ended problems to solve using their prior knowledge of similar situations<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
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