The Distinction Between Constructivism And Constructionism
by Terry Heick
Whereas engaged on the studying idea visible overview, I spotted I couldn’t clearly clarify the distinction between constructivism and constructionism.
So I did a little analysis and initially didn’t discover a lot to ease my confusion.
The Distinction Between Constructivism And Constructionism
Constructivism is–roughly–the identical factor. So what’s the distinction between constructivism and constructivism?
Definition of Constructivism
Constructivism is an academic idea through which learners actively assemble their very own understanding and data by experiences and reflection on these experiences. It emphasizes the significance of learners’ prior data, social interactions, and contextual studying to construct new understanding.
Definition of Constructionism
Constructionism extends constructivist concepts by emphasizing studying by creating tangible artifacts, reminiscent of fashions or initiatives. It promotes the concept learners assemble data most successfully when they’re actively concerned in making one thing that’s personally significant.
Edith Ackerman, a “Swiss-born American psychologist who explored the interactions between developmental psychology, play, studying and design. A graduate of the College of Geneva, she held everlasting or visiting positions at a number of establishments in the US and Europe, together with the MIT Media Lab,” defined…
“What’s the distinction between Piaget’s constructivism and Papert’s “constructionism”? Past the mere play on the phrases, I believe the excellence holds, and that integrating each views can enrich our understanding of how individuals be taught and develop. Piaget’s constructivism provides a window into what kids are focused on, and in a position to obtain, at totally different phases of their growth. The idea describes how kids’s methods of doing and considering evolve, and beneath which circumstance kids usually tend to let go of—or maintain onto— their at present held views.
Papert is focused on how learners have interaction in a dialog with [their own or other people’s] artifacts…and the way these conversations facilitate the development of latest data.
Edith Ackerman, Psychologist
“Piaget means that kids have excellent causes to not abandon their worldviews simply because another person, be it an professional, tells them they’re fallacious. Papert’s constructionism, in distinction, focuses extra on the artwork of studying, or ‘studying to be taught’, and on the importance of constructing issues in studying. Papert is focused on how learners have interaction in a dialog with [their own or other people’s] artifacts, and the way these conversations enhance self-directed studying, finally facilitating the development of latest data. He stresses the significance of instruments, media, and context in human growth. Integrating each views illuminates the processes by which people come to make sense of their expertise, progressively optimizing their interactions with the world.”
You possibly can learn the full pdf right here.
So What Is The Distinction Between Constructivism And Constructionism?
Constructivism
Concept Key Concept: How individuals be taught by developing their understanding and data of the world by expertise and reflection.
Influential Theorists: Jean Piaget and Lev Vygotsky
Key Parts Of Constructivism
1. Energetic Studying: Learners actively take part of their studying course of.
2. Data Development: Studying is about developing data slightly than simply absorbing info.
3. Prior Data: Learners construct new data based mostly on current data.
4. Social Interplay: Studying usually entails social interactions and collaboration.
5. Contextual Studying: Studying is contextual and situational.
Constructionism
Concept Ley Concept: This strategy extends constructivist concepts into studying by making, emphasizing the creation of tangible merchandise or artifacts.
Influential Theorist: Seymour Papert
Key Parts of Constructionism
1. Studying by Making: Data development is handiest when learners are actively concerned in making one thing tangible.
2. Mission-Primarily based Studying: Emphasis on initiatives that end in a tangible artifact or product.
3. Reflection and Iteration: Learners replicate on their creations and iterate on their designs.
4. Computational Considering: Typically entails integrating know-how and computational instruments.
5. Private Relevance: Tasks are pushed by learners’ pursuits and private relevance.
Abstract
Constructivism: Focuses on the person’s technique of developing data by experiences and reflection.
Constructionism: Emphasizes studying by creating tangible artifacts, incorporating know-how and private pursuits.
Similarities Between Constructivism and Constructionism
Identical: Energetic studying and the significance of prior data
Examples Of Constructivism
Instance 1: Studying in a Classroom
Situation: A science class is studying about ecosystems.
Exercise: The instructor units up stations with varied ecosystems (pond, forest, desert) and offers supplies reminiscent of footage, plant samples, and soil varieties.
Constructivist Strategy: College students rotate by the stations, observe the supplies, and focus on what they discover about every ecosystem in small teams. They then create an idea map exhibiting how totally different ecosystem parts work together.
Final result: By way of lively engagement and dialogue, college students assemble an understanding of ecosystems by connecting new info with their prior data.
Instance 2: Baby Studying
Situation: A toddler is studying about fractions.
Exercise: The kid is given a set of fraction tiles and a recipe to be halved.
Constructivist Strategy: The kid makes use of the fraction tiles to visually and bodily manipulate the elements of the recipe, experimenting with totally different mixtures to grasp how fractions work.
Final result: By way of hands-on expertise, the kid understands fractional relationships by actively participating with the supplies and making use of fractions to a real-world state of affairs.
Examples of Constructionism
Instance 1: Studying in a Classroom
Situation: A center faculty know-how class is studying about coding.
Exercise: The instructor assigns a undertaking the place college students create their very own online game utilizing a programming platform like Scratch.
Constructionist Strategy: College students brainstorm sport concepts, write the code, design characters, and construct the sport. They check their video games, get suggestions from friends, and make revisions.
Final result: By way of making a tangible product (a online game), college students deepen their understanding of coding ideas, logic, and problem-solving.
Instance 2: Baby Studying a few science matter
Situation: A toddler is focused on studying about electrical energy
Exercise: The kid is given a easy electronics equipment with wires, a battery, and a light-weight bulb.
Constructionist Strategy: The kid is requested to construct a primary circuit, experimenting with totally different connections to see what makes the sunshine bulb activate. They may additionally strive including a swap or a number of bulbs.
Final result: By developing a working circuit, the kid learns concerning the ideas of electrical energy, circuits, and conductivity by hands-on creation and experimentation.