Vygotsky's Constructivism Theory

CONSTRUCTIVISM

Constructivism is basically a theory that talks about how people learn. It says that people construct their own understanding and knowledge of the world, through experiencing things and reflecting on those experiences.

The theory explains that children are not blank sheets of paper that is filled by a teacher rather they actively construct their own knowledge of the world through social negotiations and interactions and through the environment, then this new information is compared to prior knowledge. This theory therefore states that learning is a lifelong process of active learning that takes place inside one’s mind

For example when we encounter something new, we have to compare it with our previous ideas and experiences, maybe

DEWEY THEORY

Dewey’s theory emphasizes the need to learn by doing. He believed that human beings learn through a 'hands-on ' approach. He believed that ‘to prepare the child for the future life means to give him command of himself; it means so to train him that he will have the full and ready use of all his capacities ‘and this truly can only be achieved through a hands on approach.

Dewey’s theory emphasized the fact that a teacher centred curriculum, plan, and teach in many cases causes children to look away from learning but a child centred plan curriculum and learning where the child’s strengths and interest are built on.

This can be achieved if the teacher becomes the facilitator of learning by selecting a set of natural objects which children can relate to, feel and discuss. Gaining knowledge that is actually attached to something real and the

This means that students must interact with their environment in order to adapt and learn.

He also warns that a balance is struck between child centered learning and teacher centered learning for it to work effectively, and this is the sole duty of the instructor or coach.

PIAGET THEORY

Piagets theory is based on the logic that adaptation must take place for a child to learn and the processes that allows such adaptation to happen is assimilation and accommodation. Both processes work together simultaneously.

.He believed that for learning to take place a child has to adapt to his environment and knowledge is constructed and manipulated within a child. He also believed that peer interactions with children of similar intellectual level was of great importance because it opens the child to alternative perspectives and gives them the opportunity to discuss new ideas, information and knowledge.

Piaget also believed that when children learn new things it is compared to something they already know and grouped in a mental shelve with other similar things (schema).

Assimilation and