Constructivism

Who is the Philosopher?

Giambattista Vico said that humans can only understand what they have themselves construct.

Heins said knowledge is not “out there” but knowledge is what we construct for ourselves as we learn.

Piaget,1973: 

“to understand is to discover, or reconstruct by rediscovery, and such of conditions must be complied with if in the future individuals are to be formed who are capable of production and creativity and not simply repetition”

And many other experts.

Knowledge based on Constructivism:

• Knowledge is a combination of prior learning combined by new information and learning readiness.
• Knowledge is created by student and it is meaningful for them.
• Learner constructs their own knowledge by looking for the meaning and order and they interpret what they have listen, read, and watch based on their previous learning and habits.
• Learning called success when student can demonstrate the concept that they have learnt.

Constructivist teacher:

1. Teacher give autonomy for student and let the learning process is based on student’s initiative.
2. Teacher teach new concept to the student using a real problem and not using imaginary situation.
3. Teacher use cognitive terminology like, classify, analyze, predict, and create.
4. Teacher should fulfill what the student need.
5. Teacher inquire student about new concept.
6. Teacher encourages the student to have a dialog with the teacher and also their classmate.
7. Teacher encourage the student to make a thoughtful questions.
8. Teacher will act as a helper when student elaborate a problem.
9. Teacher will make the student have unforgettable experience.
10. Teacher will give the student time after asking question.
11. Teacher will give the student time to construct relationship of a new case.
12. Teacher will take the student to natural curiosity by using learning cycle model (teacher provides an opportunity to student interact with material, teacher provides concept introduction, and teacher provide concept application for accomplished by the student.)

Source: 

Teaching Learning, Constructivist Learning by Dimitriors Thanasoulas, Greece (http://www3.telus.net/linguisticsissues/constructivist.html)

In Search of Understanding: The Case for Constructivist Classroom, Revised Edition by Jacqueline Grennon Brooks and Martin G. Brooks