{"id":377,"date":"2017-10-20T21:28:57","date_gmt":"2017-10-21T01:28:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sites.miamioh.edu\/edt431-531\/?p=377"},"modified":"2017-10-20T21:30:05","modified_gmt":"2017-10-21T01:30:05","slug":"an-interesting-perspective-mirrors-and-wondows","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.miamioh.edu\/exemplary-science-teaching\/2017\/10\/an-interesting-perspective-mirrors-and-wondows\/","title":{"rendered":"An Interesting Perspective: Mirrors and Windows"},"content":{"rendered":"

Howdy Bloggers,<\/p>\n

Today marks the fifth official installment of An Interesting Perspective. In this post, we will discuss constructivism and the significance behind a student’s prior knowledge and experience.<\/p>\n

What is Constructivism?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

As defined by David T. Crowther\u00a0in his article Cooperating with Constructivism – Getting the Word Out on the Meaning of “Constructivism,”<\/em>\u00a0“constructivism means that as people experience something new, they internalize it through past experiences or knowledge constructs that have been previously established.” So, in an educational context, you must realize that all students come into the classroom with an understanding based on their own life experiences.<\/p>\n

This means that students do NOT come into the classroom as blank slates. They come into the classroom with predetermined notions and ideas about topics that relate to their own past experiences.<\/p>\n

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This idea of blank slates is the old model, and is known as positivism. Positivism is like a mirror. You come into the classroom as a teacher ready to give all the information you have to the students. When you look at them at the end of the year, you simply see a reflection of yourself and your knowledge; hence a mirror.<\/p>\n

On the other hand, constructivism is like a window. After the school year is over, each student will have a unique view out of their window that was formed by the information presented. This view represents how the students can take that information and apply it to their lives. Their view is also shaped by their experiences prior to walking into the classroom. These experiences lay the framework for their view out the window.<\/p>\n

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So when you as a teacher go to look out each student’s window, you will see a uniquely different landscape. However, if you look closely, you will be able to see a slight reflection of yourself in the glass. This reflection is important, but unlike with a mirror, it is not at all the focal point of the window.<\/p>\n

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How can constructivism be applied to the classroom?<\/strong><\/p>\n

An easy way to implement constructivist ideas into a lesson is by using the 5 E’s learning cycle. The 5 E’s of the learning cycle are Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, <\/em>and Evaluate<\/em>.<\/p>\n

ENGAGE<\/strong><\/p>\n