Shaping the Future of Learning: The Influence of Constructivism and Constructionism

"Students in a Classroom Learning with Technology" by NightCafé is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0.

As our world becomes more digital each day, the same happens to education. Far too often educators have tried to use technology in the classroom to replace things they have already done, instead of using technology as a supplement. It is becoming increasingly important to ensure educators are drifting away from making a boring lesson into a boring PowerPoint and instead are looking for ways to, as Richard Culatta talks about in his Tedx Talk, “use technology to do new things that were not possible before.” Learners need to take charge of their knowledge and work on gaining key skills that will help them post-school. This week I read about two cognitive learning theories that will be the key to addressing these issues.

The two theories I have learned about that support this idea and will encourage educators to move forward in a positive direction with technology are Constructivism and Constructionism. Constructivism is a theory by Jean Piaget that “describes how people learn about the world around them.” (Udacity, 2016.) This is rooted in the existing knowledge of the learner and talks about the ways learners think about the topics they are learning about. Constructionism is a theory from Seymour Papert that takes the ideas of Constructivism a bit further and “applies them to how we should actually develop curricular” (Udacity, 2016.) for learners. This theory focuses on the curriculum and activities that will best support learners. Using both of these theories, educators can start focusing on how to use technology to fix the problems they see their learners struggling with instead of a ‘one size fits all’ approach.

As I read and watched videos this week I really thought back to something I had learned about in a past MAET (Masters of Arts in Educational Technology) class called 21st Century Learning. I spoke about 21st Century Learning in a past blog you can read here, however, I believe it is rooted in these theories. 21st-century learners focus on collaborative learning, creative problem-solving, and communication. These real-world skills are also talked about when it comes to Constructivism and Constructionism.

Preparing students for the future is a big but essential job for educators. It can take a lot of work to come up with something that will effectively teach an entire group of students the same concept at the same time. Learners are all going through different stages and experiences, with differing background knowledge. Constructionism highlights that learners are responsible for building their understanding, but the educator must create and facilitate those experiences for them to gain these skills.

By giving learners agency they will be able to gauge their own learning and background knowledge and this will help them excel. Learners may also experience failure. Failure is inevitable but how we direct learners to embrace it will make the difference. Failure can be a catalyst for improvement and encouragement to try again and learn from that experience itself. Failure doesn’t define who learners are, it will typically define their problem-solving abilities and highlight the steps they take to move to the next part of a project, assignment, etc.

In conclusion, both constructivism and constructionism are important and insightful into how people learn and interact with their environment. By actively engaging learners in hands-on activities and encouraging them to explore and build their own knowledge, both approaches promote a more meaningful and useful educational experience. Ultimately, whether we decide to embrace constructivism or constructionism, or even a combination of both, it is evident that these theories offer valuable pathways to inspire creativity, critical thinking, and lifelong learning in today's changing world.

Let's keep the conversation going! I encourage reflection and comments by email or follow me on Twitter @kdeloachMSU.

References

NightCafé. (2019). AI-generated Artworks [Computer software]. Retrieved July 16, 2023 from https://nightcafe.studio/

OpenAI. (2021). GPT-3 Language Model [Computer software]. Retrieved July 16, 2023 from https://openai.com/api/

TEDxTalk. (2013, January 10). Reimagining learning: Richard Culatta at TEDx Beacon Street [Video]. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0uAuonMXrg&feature=emb_logo

Udacity. (2016, June 6). Constructionism. [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qsiqetMlCg