Abstract
Constructivists believe that knowledge can emerge as learners construct meaning from information they receive and from their participation in the learning activities. As a result, learners gain knowledge from their interaction with the learning environment and from interacting among themselves. Learners construct meaning as they engage in critical reflection and evaluation of learning materials in an effort to discover patterns or new dimensions of the emerging information. This implies that learners have the opportunity to develop the skill to absorb the information before them in a way that connects the previously acquired knowledge and the newly discovered information. Constructivist advocates support learning that focuses on the analysis, synthesis, and evaluation of the learning materials and the related information as a means of constructing new knowledge.
Key Terms in this Chapter
Electronic Instructional Plan: A text instructional lesson plan that incorporates sound, video, movie, static images, motion clips, animation, and hyperlinks that can be used to navigate around documents so that teachers can flip forward and backward to reinforce learning both for the quick and slow learners
Collaborative Learning: This is a method of learning where learners work as a group; in most cases in small groups for the purpose of accomplishing instructional goals. They interact and evaluate each other’s ideas as they work cooperatively on a given project to solve a learning problem.
Critical Thinking: A situation where students learn by synthesizing, analyzing, and evaluating the learning materials designed to find a solution to a learning problem. It involves mental reflection, turning the topic over and over mentally, or probing the topic being examined as a process of understanding the underlying assumption.
Authentic Learning Activity: Refers to instructional materials that reflect real-life a learning activity or learning problem that has real life application.
Constructivist Learning Framework: A philosophical viewpoint which stipulates that learning is about constructing meaning rather than passively listening to the teacher. Learning is an active process and should reflect authentic activity that is designed to solve real life problems. Learning is a social activity where learners collaborate and interact with the learning environment as they construct meaning through reflective and critical thinking. The teacher becomes a facilitator of instruction rather than a dispenser of knowledge.
Active Learning Process: This involves doing something as part of the learning experience. It implies that the learner is not merely listening to the teacher but engages in mental reflection which includes completing test, discussing with others, using computer to complete assignment, or engaging in a worthwhile learning activity either mentally or learning by practice.