Co-construction of Knowledge

What is Social Constructivism?

What is Social Constructivism?

Constructivist education is when . . .
. . . learners actively construct meaning by building on background knowledge, experience and reflect on those experiences.
- See more at: http://imaginationsoup.net/2011/01/what-is-a-constructivist-classroom/#sthash.sFZtoMpc.dpuf

This definition was inspired by the Model of Social Constructivism that I found on a blog created by Dartz Dodd.

Constructivist Perspective

Our final perspective is the constructivist perspective. Constructivism proposes the idea that the learner constructs, rather than absorbs, knowledge from his or her experiences. According to the constructivism perspective:

The learner is self-directed, creative and innovative.
The learner is encouraged to learn truths about the environment and the world by arriving at conclusions based on his or her background, culture or worldview.
The responsibility of learning falls primarily on the learner, while the teacher's role is that of a facilitator.
Collaborative learning is also a key component of this perspective.

The article by Beaumi Kim defines Social Constructivism as:


Lev Vygotsky

The video below defines Lev Vygotsky's Zone of Proximal Development

Jerome Bruner

Bruner-graphic

Jerome Bruner's term "scaffolding refers to the steps taken to reduce the degree of freedom in carrying out some task so that the child can concentrate on the difficult skill she is in the process of acquiring" (Bruner, 1978, p. 19). "Scaffolding involves helpful, structured interaction between an adult and a child with the aim of helping the child achieve a specific goal."

Constructivism in Education

ZPD and Scaffolding Diagram

Piaget Vs Vygotsky

Vygotsky and Piaget

Middle Childhood

Middle Childhood and Development
Note: If this page shows up blank, click this link Middle Childhood Poster to be directed to webpage for the poster I created on Glogster.

Social Constructivist School Age Program

Children need the FREEDOM to appreciate the infinite resources of their HANDS, their EYES, and their EARS, the resources of FORMS, MATERIALS, SOUNDS, and COLORS.

Loris Malaguzzi's Quote

In a social constructivist school age program, children are observing, exploring, inquiring, co-constructing their own knowledge through experiences and interacting with peers, educators and the environment. The educator creates provocation and than set-up the environment with materials and resources for students to explore with. The educators interacts with the students rather than dictates.

Create simple invitations to help engage your children in meaningful experiences...

Engage, Discover & Learn

Exploring, Observe, Environment, and Documentation

Prof. Ray Schroeder explains in his instructional design site (https://sites.google.com/site/instdesignonline/), social constructivist approaches have been shown to be successful in online learning. Some of the major principles of social constructivism are:

Traditional vs Constructivist Classroom

Reggio Emilia

Loris Malaguzzi

Reggio Emilia

Loris Malaguzzi's Quote

Reggio Emilia Approach Key Principles:

The Image of Child:

The Role of the Teacher:

The Role of Parent:

Children are Connected:

The Role of the Environment:

Art is at the Core:

Pedagogical Documentation:

Carla Rinaldi's definition of Making Learning Visible

The Many Languages of Children:

Hundred Languages of Children was a quote by Loris Malaguzzi that I found on the flipbook and PDF of Re-imagining Childhood by Carla Rinaldi that I came across on Diane Kashin's pinterest board. Re-imagining Childhood flipbook is "inspirational for those who would like to gain more knowledge on the Reggio Emilia approach"

The following link will direct you to more Key Principles.

Note: The picture link for The Key Principles of Reggio Emilia

My Past Educational Experience: Behaviourism

Education & Oppression- Banking Concept and Behaviourism

Epistemological Theory of Tabula Rasa

Banking Concept of Education:

I was a student that was "filled with the content of the teacher's narration" I was a student that was also expected to "repeat that narration on exams and quizzes". Paulo Freire didn't support or agree with Banking Concept of Education, it was an education theory that was described in his book "Pedagogy of the Oppressed. The banking concept is similar to John Locke's epistemological theory of tabula rasa (blank slates).

This Collage was created using befunky, the photos that were using are Group Classroom Setting Individual Classroom Setting Teacher in Control and cover of Paulo Freire's book.

Tabula Rasa

Behaviourism

My Education Experience

Story:

I always thought learning was where the teacher controlled what I learned because that's the way I was "taught" while growing up. I always remember being in the classroom where the teacher spoke and I "listened". Let's be honest listening involves paying attention to what is being said by the teacher. I remember "hearing" what the teacher but I always remembered zoning out because of the lack of interaction between the teacher and students. My responsibility as a student was to memorize and repeat the content that I was "learned" in class. Do I remember what I learned when I was younger, I would say I do not.

My passion is working with children but I hated education, that was until I had to read Pedagogy of the Oppressed at York University for Children's Studies. I hated education because I thought it oppressed students. I was wrong because education can be liberating for students but that's in the approach that the teacher takes.

Reality of Education

My Education Experience Now: Connectivism

Connectivism

21st Century Pedagogy

The approach to education is Connectivism and to the pedagogical approach that is being used in Social Constructivism in Education: Middle Course EAD 504 is 21st century pedagogy. The Connectivism theory connects students with other students in the classroom, their educators, students are also connected and are able to relate to the world using social media such as twitter, pinterest, facebook etc.