Project-based learning is one way to incorporating constructivist/constructionist learning theories into the classroom. Project-based learning allows for students to investigate, and it is usually done by groups of students that work together to collaborate their own ideas to create something, which describes what a constructivist/constructionist learner does to learn/discover information. Project based activities also allows students to reflect upon their own ideas and opinions, collaborate; and make their own decision which brings into play the generating and testing hypotheses where the student is pulling facts from different sources and determining the outcome. Project-based learning, depending upon how it is designed, allows students to gain knowledge from investigation; which can be done through technology.
References
Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2011). Program nine: Connectivism as a learning theory [Video webcast]. Bridging learning theory, instruction and technology. Retrieved from http://laureate.ecollege.com/ec/crs/default.learn?CourseID=5700267&CPURL=laureate.ecollege.com&Survey=1&47=2594577&ClientNodeID=984650&coursenav=0&bhcp=1
I know that's not just me, but I am finding this week's learning theory fits what I do in a lot of ways. Even the term "constructionist" looks and sounds exciting. What student doesn't like to create, to build, to construct things relating to what they are learning. I surely am not the smartest teacher and there are a lot more profound concepts of this theory that I will never understand. But just going with what Dr. Orey mentioned in the video, we need to focus on students being active and engaged in the classroom, and using PBL's is one of those excellent activities to get students to think critically, collaborate, and create artifacts to show their progress.
ReplyDeleteGreat summary of this week's information do you have any examples of where you have tried this in your classroom or perhaps where you might try it?
ReplyDeleteI like the word investigating when approaching constructivism too. Students like to investigate or search for new information, experiment with how they can apply or build upon it, and share results with their peers and teachers. So many new resources are found through investigating the Internet, I know my list of resources for each of my projects is growing longer and longer!
ReplyDeleteKay, mathematics uses generating and testing hypothesis constantly. We call it guess and check. Often it is the fastest way to solve a problem that has been encountered for the first time. Eventually as students solve enough of these problems using this method they begin to form a theory or algorithm that they can use to solve problems even faster. This is a good example of students accommodating new processes into their existing schema for that type of problem. Your post helped me to recall this and to gain a better understanding of this process.
ReplyDeleteKay,
ReplyDeleteIn my kindergarten class we use project-based learning often. My students work together often to learn more. How do you use it in your classroom?
Chelsea Blasius
Hi Czapphys, and Chelsea:
ReplyDeleteOne instance in which I used project-based learning was in teaching students how to create a table, insert pictures, place titles for each column, insert color, and use different font sizes and types that consisted of information on the Biomes of the world - students were to investigate five different biomes, they were to get the graphic of one plant, and one animal that intrested them and identify the plant and animal they had to save the pictures to their folders on the intranet and import them on to the tabled page, they were to investigate the information of the biomes through the use of the internet and given sites; to find the precipitation, temperature and three important facts about the biomes. When they finished the table, they had a worksheet that was filled with ingormation about five different biomes which included graphics and color coding as well as the, different font sizes and styles - the information was in a table format with a header and it included a footer citing the source. The students loved it and many of them told me we like the biomes. So they learned all the information about the biomes, I had no problems with them doing the reading/investiagation; and they had fun.
Hi kimanhcao:
ReplyDeleteI agree that students like to create and build things, and if we can give them technology to do it with; it makes the project even more interesting.
Hi Doug:
ReplyDeleteI am glad my comments were helpful. Don't forget you can use technology and the excel spreadsheet to help them solve problems faster also.
Cindy,
ReplyDeleteYou are so right students like to investigate or search for new information, especially when they can use technology to do that investigation.