Use a Learning Theory: Constructivism

Summary

Teacher Tony struggles to engage students in resource sustainability and higher-order thinking. The video introduces constructivism — learning as meaning-making through active experience — and proposes problem-based learning to transform his classroom. Tony poses the essential question, “How can we reduce waste to sustain Earth’s resources?” and guides students through real-world activities: touring a recycling plant, tracking household food waste, researching solutions, and interviewing experts. Student groups create public-facing artifacts (books, slideshows, PSAs) and present at a community recycling night. The approach fosters collaboration, critical thinking, problem solving, and deeper, transferable understanding.

Takeaways

• 😀 Constructivism is a learning theory where students create meaning from their own experiences, making learning more relevant and engaging.
• 😀 Teacher Tony is struggling to engage students in learning about resource sustainability and waste because his curriculum lacks critical thinking and collaboration skills.
• 😀 Constructivism helps by encouraging active participation in learning, allowing students to interact with real-world problems and concepts.
• 😀 Higher order thinking skills like problem-solving and reasoning are central to constructivism, which promotes knowledge transfer to new situations.
• 😀 Common examples of constructivist teaching include role-playing, debates, cooperative learning, and engaging in real-world activities like internships.
• 😀 To address his teaching challenges, Teacher Tony decides to use problem-based learning (PBL), engaging students with a real-world question: How can we reduce waste to help sustain Earth's resources?
• 😀 Teacher Tony plans a series of activities, including a local waste plant tour, recording food waste data, researching solutions, and conducting interviews with experts to solve the problem.
• 😀 Students will demonstrate their findings through creative projects like books, slideshows, and public service announcements about recycling and waste reduction.
• 😀 The activities are designed to build collaboration and problem-solving skills, while helping students apply knowledge to practical, real-world issues.
• 😀 After using constructivist principles, Teacher Tony sees greater student engagement, as students are more actively involved in learning and demonstrating their understanding.

Q & A

What is the main problem teacher Tony faces in his classroom?

Teacher Tony is struggling to engage his students in learning about resource sustainability and waste. His current curriculum doesn't encourage communication, collaboration, or promote higher-order thinking and problem-solving skills.

What teaching method is suggested to help teacher Tony improve his classroom engagement?

The suggested teaching method is constructivism, which encourages active engagement, problem-solving, and critical thinking by having students interact with real-world problems and create meaning from their experiences.

What is constructivism?

Constructivism is a learning theory that focuses on students creating meaning through experience. It emphasizes that learning is more effective when students are actively engaged in problem-solving within meaningful contexts.

How does constructivism engage students in learning?

Constructivism engages students by making them take on a more active role in the learning process. Students interact with problems, build their knowledge based on their experiences, and work on higher-order thinking skills like reasoning and problem-solving.

What are some common examples of constructivist teaching methods?

Common examples include roleplaying historical events, debating current controversial issues, using cooperative learning groups to explore multiple perspectives, and engaging students in real-world activities like internships.

What problem-based learning activity does teacher Tony use in his classroom?

Teacher Tony uses the essential question, 'How can we reduce waste to help sustain Earth's resources?' as the central problem. He then designs activities like a tour of a recycling plant, researching waste reduction solutions, and creating public service announcements.

What real-world activity does teacher Tony incorporate into his lessons?

Teacher Tony organizes a tour of a local waste and recycling plant, where students can learn firsthand how waste and recycling are managed in their community.

How do the students contribute to the research process in teacher Tony's classroom?

Students research waste reduction solutions using books, the internet, and interviews with experts through phone or Skype. They work in groups to investigate and develop potential solutions.

What are some examples of how students can demonstrate their findings?

Students can present their findings through various methods like creating books, slideshows, or public service announcements. These projects can be showcased during a family recycling night for the community and parents.

What were the outcomes of using constructivism in teacher Tony's classroom?

By implementing constructivist principles, teacher Tony's students became more actively involved in their learning. They engaged in problem-solving, higher-order thinking, and collaborative work, resulting in better student engagement and motivation.