CONSTRUCTIVISM 0.4

There are some principles of constructivism that must be paid attention in applying this theory in teaching learning process ( Simon, 1990)

1. Knowledge is actively constructed by the individual.

It means that knowledge is seen or viewed as learning in how the learners construct the meaning of something that can make sense to them. In other words, it creates the learners as active creators.

2. Learning is both an individual and a social process.

We find the meaning of learning through the interaction with others in natural contexts.

3. Learning is a self-regulated process

Individual’s learning is determined by the inborn characteristics and external factors that influence them.

4. Learning is an organizational process that enables people to make sense of their world.

Learning is viewed as process to relate the prior knowledge and new one by assimilating and accommodating.

5. Cognition serves the organization of the experiential world, not the ontological reality. Truth as viability, not validity.

In doing the term ”learning” an individual has different ways, perspectives, life and the purpose of it. So, he or she has different result in interpreting the term “learning” that it is based on his or her experience.

6. Reality represents an interpretation.

To construct our understanding of the meaning of certain thing, we can’t separate with the term interpretation.

7. Learning is a socially situated activity that is enhanced in meaningful contexts.

The term “learning” happens in social environments in interaction with others in meaningful context.

8. Language plays an essential role in learning. Thinking takes place in communication.

Language is seen as the tool to connect  with what has been learning with component of language such as words, sentence etc. then combine it in order to create the effective communication.

9. Motivation is a key component in learning.

Motivation  has significant role in learning if the learner has high  motivation in learning , he will  have the better result than the learner doesn’t.

EDUCATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE OF CONSTRUCTIVISM:

(i)  Understanding the Cognitive Process: Education aims to teach children how to think and not what to think. Teachers must be aware of student learning along with that they know how they attempt to learn it. It all happens with developing new informative knowledge

(ii)  Strengthening the Basics of the learning process: Teachers must consider the student’s earlier foundation of learning while planning and preparing for new stratergies teaching. Felicitator test and strengthen the students’ past learning before presenting the new abstract material.

(iii) Collaboration of old and new ideas:  As previously established knowledge, a teacher must show how to relate new ideas with old ones. By giving a set of practical examples teachers build new ways of constructing knowledge.

(iv) Organization and assimilation of new ideas:  While constructing new ideas children organize, and assimilate the concepts. Therefore teachers need to present conceptual knowledge in a meaningful way.

 (v) Active representation in the knowledge construction: Children must actively participate in learning situations. So the teacher must provide opportunities to use the old ideas to apply them to the new current understanding and construct and reconstruct knowledge by making their way.

(vi)  Social participation in learning: Children learn better through social interaction. They share their knowledge with others to gain new ideas and experiences to clear their doubts.