Overview

=**The Basics of Constructivism**= Constructivists believe that "learners construct their own reality or interpret it based upon their perceptions of experience, so an individual's knowledge is a function of one's prior experiences, mental structures, and beliefs that are used to interpret objects and events." "What one knows is grounded in perception of the physical and social experiences which are comprehended by the mind." Jonassen (1991).

David Jonassen identified the following criteria in //Designing Constructivist Learning Environments//:

1. Select appropriate problem (question, case or project) for the learner to focus on, 2. Provided related cases or worked examples to enable case-based reasoning, 3. Provide learner-selectable information, 4. Provide information gathering tools, 5. Provide collaboration tools to support knowledge building, and 6. Provide social/contextual support for the learning environment.


 * Focus Question:**

Watch the video on [|The Many Faces of Constructivist Learning] and read the interview with [|David Jonassen]. Take some time to learn more about Constructivist Theory of learning. Think about the Constructivist Learning video. How would you described 'knowledge construction' in Constructivism? What factors influence learning, from a constructivist perspective? Post your reflection in the **Constructivism Basics** Discussion Thread in Vista.

=Looking a Little Closer=

//According to Driscoll (2005),// [|//Constructivist Learning Goals//]//emphasize:

1. learning in context, 2. knowledge that learners can usefully deploy through meaningful activities, 3. knowledge that develops and continues to change with learner activity, 4. continuous and life long learning, resulting from activities in situations 5. critical thinking 6. self-regulation 7. knowledge is central to the notion of 'situated learning', rejecting inert knowledge, 8. thinking activities are central to constructivism theory

N.B. There is no single constructivist theory of instruction, but rather a collection of// [|constructive approaches]


 * Focus Question:**

Look at the concept map below. Is there anything missing? Is there anything that should be changed? Why do you think it should be changed? Please post your responses in the discussion board on Vista in the thread labelled **'Constructivism Basics'** and we will update the map throughout the week.