Constructivism
Constructivism
As I read in the lecture and as I know from the previous lectures, constructivism relies on the premise that the act of learning is based on a process which connects new knowledge to pre-existing knowledge. I do not intend to go through the arguments over constructivism or to talk about its history but I would like to provide a personal reflection over it.
According to me Constructivist teaching allows the student to build their knowledge through questioning, and through experience. They must experience it to understand it. “It appears that knowledge is not a transferable commodity and communication not a conveyance”. Students are not empty vessels to be filled, and talking to them isn’t going to help them understand anything.
Constructivism encourages teachers to find out what their students already know, and to guide them as they ask questions and find the answers to those same questions. Their role is not to impart wisdom or knowledge, but rather to guide and direct their students along their path to finding information that is relevant and meaningful to their lives.
I realized that these theories have used for many years as principles of teaching and learning integrate in different subjects especially from elementary pupils, particularly John Piaget’s theories are useful in child growth while his cognitive structures develop. At present, as modern technologies rise up, modern constructivism created according to Jerome Bruner which he incorporate the social and cognitive aspects which he introduces the Five E’s:
Engage – let the pupils interested the lesson discussed (e.g. defined, ask question);
Explore – use their inquiry to drive the process, by engaging question let them to analyze one problem and make a concrete solution;
Explain – teacher determine their level of understanding by giving activity; Elaborate – make connections out from their inquiry relate from actual learning; Evaluate – give assignments, quiz or group discussion to measures their learning.
As I said in the very beginning constructivism relies to the premise that the act of learning is based on a process that connects new knowledge to previous knowledge. New knowledge is therefore interpreted by existing knowledge and then connected to existing knowledge. The implications of this conception are manifold and spread beyond conventional education into interpersonal communication and psychotherapy. In addition this phenomenon begs the question of how the process is conducted and manifested in the brains of individuals.
Enjoy my post and I hope you consider it as more food for your thought!
It was a good post. I like the way how you have organized it . You have mentioned five E which were very interesting information for me . Good job .
ReplyDeleteYour post is comprehensible and you have provided your personal reflection on constructivism,which you have explicitly stated even in your first paragraph:''I would like to provide a personal reflection over it.''You have clearly emphasized the role of the teacher when using this approach in the classroom.I mostly like the fact that you have mentioned Burner and his 5 E's on modern constructivism.Well done.
ReplyDeleteThe 5 E's technique was the most valuable and useful thing that we can get from this point. I like it when one of us shares something special with the others. We all can rely upon them. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThankyou for the meal haha, really, it was good and everything was well linked, especially the quintet of E-s :D
ReplyDeleteA well done explanation of what does constructivism mean and its characteristics...you have provided your own opinions in a organized way
ReplyDeleteyou have highlighted the main points by giving your personal reflection ,and it was quite valuable mentioning all the 5 E's techniques. i like that phrase in the end :)
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