Theory of Constructivism

 What is constructivism?

Constructivism is a theory of learning that believes that people construct or create their own knowledge and that this fact is determined by one's personal experience. According to theory of constructivism a learner constructs meaning from his experience and that meaning is influenced by a combination of prior knowledge and new events. According to constructionist theory knowledge can only be found in the mind, and that it does not needs to be factual.

Principles of constructivism

As according to constructivism human beings construct their learning by adding new knowledge to existing one. This prior knowledge contributes to new or translated personal information that will be built from new learning experiences. The second thought is that learning is an active process, not just a passive way of gaining knowledge. In teaching concept the child is like an empty vessel needs to be filled with knowledge, and constructivism states that students create meaning only by engaging in the world (such as trying to solve real problems).

Learning is a social based activity. It is something we do together to communicate with each other, not an incomprehensible concept. Vygotsky (1978), for example, believes that society plays an important role in the process of 'meaning-making'. According to Vygotsky, the environment where children grow influences their way of thinking. Thus, all teaching and learning is a matter of sharing and discussing integrated information with the community. Students will always try to improve their realistic mental model in their views of the world. As they experience each new experience, students will continue to renew their minds to reflect new knowledge, thus building their true interpretation. 

Types of constructivism

This often continues to be divided into three broad categories: cognitive based on the work of Jean Piaget, social constructivism based on the work of Lev Vygotsky and dynamic/ radical constructivism.

Cognitive constructivist theory states that knowledge is something learners actively build upon based on their cognitive frameworks. Therefore, learning is related to the stage of their mental development.

According to the theory of social constructivism, learning is a process based on collaboration, and information is gained through interaction of people with their culture and the society they are living in.

Radical constructivism says that human knowledge does not tell us anything about the truth, and only helps us to function in your environment. So the information that is generated is not available.

Implications of constructivism to teaching 

The primary responsibility of the teacher is to create an integrated problem-solving environment in which students participate in their learning. According to this view, the teacher acts as a facilitator of learning rather than as a teacher. Scaffolding is an important aspect of effective teaching, as the adult continually turns his or her level of support into student achievement. In class, completeness can include modeling a skill, presenting clues and changing objects or activities.

Pedagogical goals of constructive classroom 

1. Providing information about the process of building knowledge (students decide how to study). 

2. Providing expertise and information in different ways (Explore alternative solutions). 

3. Integrate learning into real world situations (real activities).

4. Reinforce identity and voice in the learning process (student-centered reading). 

5. Integrate learning from community experiences (collaboration). 

6. Encouraging the use of different presentation methods (video, audio texts, etc.)

Criticism..

The central focus of criticism for those who view constructivism as another form of theology is the question of the constructive belief that all knowledge must be based on personal experience. What these critics believe is that students' personal information is far more valuable than the information they absorb, convey, or interpret; Adoption lawyers, for example, are more likely to agree with Piaget's thoughts. Constructivist theory is indistinguishable from "adoption theory. Constructivist theory is trying to do something that doesn't make sense as it has little or nothing to say about the type of active pedagogy. 

Summary 

The constructivist theory is based on the idea that students build their knowledge on the basis of prior ideas. According to constructionist theory knowledge can only be found in the mind, and that it does not needs to be factual. learning is an active process, not just a passive way of gaining knowledge.According to Vygotsky, the environment where children grow influences their way of thinking. and constructivism states that students create meaning only by engaging in the world (such as trying to solve real problems. Teacher acts as a facilitator of learning rather than as a teacher. Scaffolding is an important aspect of effective teaching, as the adult continually turns his or her level of support into student achievement. The central focus of criticism on constructivism theory is the question of the constructive belief that all knowledge must be based on personal experience. What these critics believe is that students' personal information is far more valuable than the information they absorb, convey, or interpret.