Online Constructivist Instructional Strategies

Constructivist instructional strategies have some characteristics that you can incorporate them into your project. These characteristics should be integrated into technology or online technology. Online technology is particularly effective. Instructional strategies are different from activities, and technology. While we are designing any online instructions, we need to make sure we distinguish them from one another.

It is very important that ETC students have good understanding in these learning theories and strategies:

Introduction to Emerging Perspectives on Learning, Teaching, and Technology By Michel Orey, 2010. I encourage you to download a copy for your references. It includes many effective instructional strategies and pedagogies. You may or may not be able to read all during the class instruction. You can select the ones that are relevant to your interests, practices, and designs. It is highly encouraged that you read them when you are able to.

Note: You select the one(s) that you are interested to conduct further readings.

  • Learning & Cognitive Theories.

  • Learner-centered Theories.

  • Inquiry Strategies: Tasks

  • Inquiry Strategies: Change Learners' Minds

  • Tools for Teaching & Learning: Changing or Encouraging human Behaviors

  • Tools for Teaching & Learning: Technology Tools

  • Socially Oriented Theories

  • Directed Instruction Strategies

  • Tools for Teaching and Learning: Technology Tools

Below is a list of online constructivist instructional strategies can be integrated into online instructional designs. This is not an exhaust list of strategies.

If you intend to integrate Open Network Learning Environment (ONLE) or Personal Learning Environments (PLE) instructional strategies into your instructions, see NLE & PLE Instructional Strategies.

Here are a few examples for you to understand different components of online learning instructional designs.

Example 1: If we integrate online discussions to support teaching and learning,

  • Content: Discussion topics

  • Instructional strategies: Learner-learner interaction; Reflection (if it is reflection task)

  • Activity: Graded weekly online discussions

  • Technology: Online discussion board or chat room

  • Evaluation: Online discussion criteria/rubrics to evaluate content, instructional strategies, activity, and technology.

  • Online Learning Conceptual Framework Level: Interactive

Example 2: we can integrate "wiki (technology)" to support "online collaboration (Instructional Strategy)" by engage students in "group project (activity)."

  • Content: Group project content

  • Instructional strategies: Online collaboration

  • Activity: Students use wiki to compose group project.

  • Technology: Wiki

  • Evaluation: Project criteria/rubrics to evaluate project content, instructional strategies (online collaboration), activity, and technology.

  • Online Learning Conceptual Framework Level: Interactive

Example 3: I will design WebQuest to support my unit

  • Instructional strategies: Inquiry-based learning; Collaborative learning (if it is a group work); Online collaborative learning (if it is a group work and student collaborate online rather than Face-to-Face)

  • Activity: WebQuest activity

  • Technology: Internet

  • Online Learning Conceptual Framework Level: Active

Example 4: I will use Smart board to give lectures

  • Instructional strategies: Direct lecturing (not exact constructivist instructional strategies)

  • Activity: Lecturing

  • Technology: Smartboard; Internet (if you use internet)

  • Online Learning Conceptual Framework Level: Expository