Constructionist Learning

The basic premise of constructivist theories is that people create their own meaning through experience. In constructivism, students are encouraged to learn main ideas on their own through discovery. According to Richard Culatta (Culatta, 2011), constructivism in the classroom has the following components:
*Presentation of rubrics that have clear expectations
*Exploration of multiple strategies for tackling the assignment
*Presentation of work
*Projects that include revision and development of an idea
*Learner collaboration
*Learners engaging in "genuine," authentic real-world tasks

Project-based learning tools support constructionist-learning theory. A constructionist-based technology that can easily be implemented into the classroom is web-based blogs. Students can interact with other students. They provide opportunities for students and groups to interact with each other. They also provide scaffolding for instruction (Mollie Crie, 2006). Learners collaborate with others in the class in a blog. Blogs are motivating to students, especially for those students who might not participate in classroom discussions. Students like to blog because they know someone will be reading their work.

Students are able to post their thoughts about the assigned topic. Students should be grouped with 5 or 6 students. Students can go to www.blogger.com to set up their own blog. Each week during the computer lab, students will post their thoughts on a higher level-thinking question with Social Studies. They need to have an RSS aggravator to follow their group member’s blogs. They will need to post comments on 2 of the group member’s blogs.

A second piece of technology that is exciting and new to me was voice threads. It's a web-based communications network built specifically for K-12 students and educators. Students can provide feedback to the student who is posting their assignment by voice recording or written responses. The website I looked at for voice threads was http://voicethread.com/. Students love feedback and this is one way for instantaneous feedback. There are many implications that we can use for the classroom. I can see student’s using voice threads in Science. Students would post their assignment and others would have a chance to provide real and authentic feedback.

These instructional strategies support the constructionist learning theory. Project-based learning is important in the twenty-first century classroom. They should be used in the classroom to give students opportunities to be actively engaged in their learning. Students in turn will become life-long learners. Students take charge of their own learning when educators apply constructionist theory of learning in their instructional practices.

Crie, M. (October 2006). Teaching Today. In Using Blogs to Integrate Technology in the Classroom. Retrieved July 19, 2011, from Crie, M. (October 2006). Teaching Today. In Using Blogs to Integrate Technology in the Classroom. Retrieved July 19, 2011, from http://www.glencoe.com/sec/teachingtoday/educationupclose.phtml/47


Culatta, R. (2011). Innovative Learning. In Constructivist Theories of Learning. Retrieved July 19, 2011, from http://www.innovativelearning.com/educational_psychology/constructivism/index.htm.

Han, S., and Bhattacharya, K. (2001). Constructionist, Learning by Design, and Project Based Learning. In Emerging perspectives on learning, teaching, and technology. Retrieved from http://projects.coe.uga.edu/epltt/

Pitler, H., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., & Malenoski, K. (2007). Using Technology with
Classroom Instruction that Works. Alexandria, VA. ASCD.

Unknown. (2007). Voice thread. In Voice thread Universal, Redefining Accessibility.
Retrieved July 19, 2011, from http://voicethread.com/.