Module-14
Constructivism: Knowledge
Construction/ Concept Learning
Reported By:
-Charlene Barrion BSED-3 Social Studies.
-Leandrito Robea BEED.
This module discusses constructivism which was mentioned in the previous modules of
Piaget and Brunner. It is the distillation of most of the principles of cognitive psychologists.
Advance Organizer
CONSTRUCTIVISM
View of Characteristic of Organizing
Constructivism Constructivism Knowledge
Individual
Constructivism
Social
Constructivism
Take the Challenges!
In this Module, challenge your self to attain the following
learning outcomes:
• Explain the role of constructivism in facilitating learning.
• Describe strategies that promote knowledge construction.
• Describe strategies to facilitate concept learning.
“Teaching is not about filling up the pail:
It is about lightning a fire”
Williams Butler Yeats Treats
What concept/ ideas/images came to your mind when
you read “Teaching as filling up the pail”? Elaborate.
What concept/ideas/images came your mind when
you read “Teaching is bout lighting a fire”
Elaborate?
What is constructivism?
Constructivism learning theory is philosophy
which enhances students logic and conceptual
growth. The underlying concept within the
constructivism learning theory is the role which
experiences or connections with the adjoining
atmosphere play in student education.
Individual Two views of
Constructivismconstructivism
Social Constructivism
This also called cognitive This view emphasize that
constructivism. It knowledge exist in asocial
context and is initially
emphasize individual,
shared with others instead
internal construction of of being represented solely
knowledge. in the mind of an
Based on Piaget’s theory individual.
Based on Vygotsky’s
theory.
(4) Characteristic of
Constructivism
Whether ones takes the individual or social view of constructivism, there
are four characteristics that these two views have common. According to
Eggen and Kauchak, these are:
1. Learners construct understanding.
- Constructivists do not view learners as just
empty vessels waiting to be filled up. They
see learners as active thinkers who interpret
new information based on what they already
know. They construct knowledge in away that
makes sense to them.
Characteristic of Constructivism
2. New learning depends on current understanding.
- Background information is very important. It is
through the present views or scheme that the new
information will be interpreted.
3. Learning is facilitated by social interactions.
- Constructivists believe in creating a “community of
learners” within classrooms. Learning communities
help learners take responsibility for their own learning.
Characteristic of
Constructivism
4. Meaningful learning occurs within
authentic learning tasks.
- An authentic task is one that involves a
learning activity that involves constructing
knowledge and understanding that is so
asking to the knowledge and understanding
needed when applied in the real world.
Organizing Knowledge
Concepts
- A concept is a way of grouping or categorizing
object or events in the our minds. A concept of “teach”
include a group of task such as model, discuss,
illustrate, explain, assist, etc..
Concepts as Feature Lists
-Learning a concept involves learning specific
features that characterize positive instance of the
concept include here are defining features and
correlational feature.
A defining feature - Is a characteristic present in ALL
instances.
Example, a triangle has three side. Having three sides
is a defining feature of a triangle because ALL triangle
should have three sides. If one doesn’t, then it is not a
triangle.
A correlational features- is one that is present in
many positive instances but not essential for concept
membership.
Example, a mother is loving. Being loving is a feature
commonly present in the concept mother. But a mother
may not be loving. So “being loving” is only a
correlational, not a defining one.
Concepts as prototypes.
- A prototype is an idea of a visual image of a “typical”
example. It usually formed based on the positive
instances that learners encounter most often. Example,
close your eyes now and for moment think of a cat.
Picture in mind what it looks like.
Concepts as Exemplars.
- Exemplars represent a variety of examples. It allows
learners to know that an examples under a concept may
have variability. Example, a learners' concept of vegetable
may include a wide variety of different examples like
cauliflower, kangkong, cabbage, string beans, squash,
potatoes.
Making Concept-learning Effective. As a future teacher,
you can help students learn concepts by doing the following:
Provide a clear definition of the concept
Make the defining features very concrete and prominent
Give negative instances
Cite a “best examples” 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 scripts.
-A schemas is an organized body of knowledge about
something. It is like a file of information you hold in your
mind about something. Like a schema of what teacher is.
A schema is a schema that includes a series of
predictable events about a specific activity.
Examples
- would include knowing the series of steps
done when we visit a doctor, or what
transpires at the beginning of the class
when the teacher arrives.
Your role as teacher to bring learners to
construct their own knowledge such that they
have a well organized set concepts. Aim to
make clear those concepts that are still vague
for them, and to pave the way for them to
overcome misconceptions. It is important that
you acquire skills on how to facilitate
concepts formation and development.
Constructivism can be an excellent guide for
you.
Applying Construction in facilitating
learning
Aim to make learners understand a few key ideas in an
in depth manner, rather than taking up so many topics
superficially.
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