what is constructivism?
Constructivism is a learning theory found in psychology which explains how people might acquire knowledge and learn. It therefore has direct application to education. The theory suggests that humans construct knowledge and meaning from their experiences. Constructivism is not a specific pedagogy. Piaget's theory of Constructivist learning has had wide ranging impact on learning theories and teaching methods in education and is an underlying theme of many education reform movements. Research support for constructivist teaching techniques has been mixed, with some research supporting these techniques and other research contradicting those results.
How does constructivism complement educational technology?
The rapid development of increasingly powerful computer and
communication systems has great implications for the
constructivist approach to education. It offers a
tremendous amount of information, tools for
creativity and development, and various environments and forums
for communication. Within a student-centered curriculum
based on student performance or research, new
technology tools provide many opportunities for
students and teachers to build knowledge in an
engaged setting.