By Heather AndersonBy Heather Anderson

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Constructivism vs. ConstructionismConstructivism vs. Constructionism

Constructionist learning is inspired by Constructionist learning is inspired by constructivist theories of learning and constructivist theories of learning and states that learning is an active process states that learning is an active process where learners are continuously where learners are continuously constructing mental models and theories constructing mental models and theories based on the environment around them.based on the environment around them.

Constructionism is a belief that learning Constructionism is a belief that learning can happen most efficiently when people can happen most efficiently when people are actively making things (specifically, are actively making things (specifically, robotic constructions.) robotic constructions.)

Constuctionism is connected with Constuctionism is connected with some of some of the ideasthe ideas of Jean Piaget.of Jean Piaget.

Seymour PapertSeymour Papert

Seymour Papert is the creator of the Lego Seymour Papert is the creator of the Lego Mindstorms robotics concept and has Mindstorms robotics concept and has coined the phrase Constructionism as a coined the phrase Constructionism as a learning theory. Papert feels that learning theory. Papert feels that discovery and independent learning discovery and independent learning happen best through children happen best through children experimenting on their own using “objects experimenting on their own using “objects to think” with in a playful manner.to think” with in a playful manner.

Jean PiagetJean Piaget

Piaget is responsible for introducing the Piaget is responsible for introducing the term Constructivsm. Piaget’s theory was term Constructivsm. Piaget’s theory was developed to explain how knowledge is developed to explain how knowledge is constructed in our mind.constructed in our mind.

Constuctivism is a psychological theory of Constuctivism is a psychological theory of knowledge and is not a specific pedagogy.knowledge and is not a specific pedagogy.

ConstructionismConstructionism

Constuctionism is both a learning theory Constuctionism is both a learning theory and a tactic for education that offers the and a tactic for education that offers the framework for a technology-rich learning framework for a technology-rich learning environment surrounded by design.environment surrounded by design.

ConstructivismConstructivism

Constuctivism encourages learners to Constuctivism encourages learners to reflect upon their past experiences and in reflect upon their past experiences and in some cases change their beliefs based on some cases change their beliefs based on their new experiences. their new experiences.

Constuctivist Teachers vs. ConstructionistConstuctivist Teachers vs. Constructionist

ConstructivistConstructivist teachers believe that teachers believe that people are active creators of their own people are active creators of their own knowledge and must constantly evaluate knowledge and must constantly evaluate and explore what they know.and explore what they know.

ConstructionistConstructionist teachers allow students teachers allow students to adopt their own conclusions as they to adopt their own conclusions as they learn through creative experimentation. learn through creative experimentation. They do not teach “at” the students, rather They do not teach “at” the students, rather assist to understand.assist to understand.

““It would be particularly oxymoronic to convey the idea of It would be particularly oxymoronic to convey the idea of constructionism through a definition since, after all, constructionism through a definition since, after all, constructionism boils down to demanding that everything constructionism boils down to demanding that everything be understood by being constructed.”be understood by being constructed.”

-Seymour Papert 1991-Seymour Papert 1991

ConclusionConclusion Jean Piaget’s theory was developed to Jean Piaget’s theory was developed to

explain how knowledge was constructed in explain how knowledge was constructed in our minds, however, Seymour Papert our minds, however, Seymour Papert focuses on the role of constructions in the focuses on the role of constructions in the world as a support for those in the mind.world as a support for those in the mind.

Bers, M. (2008). Bers, M. (2008). Blocks to Robots: Blocks to Robots: Learning with technology in the early Learning with technology in the early childhood classroom.childhood classroom. New York: New York: Teachers College Press.Teachers College Press.

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