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Constructivism transforms our approach to learning. Traditional teaching puts the instructor at the centre of teaching and prioritizes the information they deliver to students. Constructivism acknowledges that students have different experiences and, therefore, process information differently, and so focuses on the design of experiences that allow students to explore their own learning path (Powell, 2009).
Affordances of Technology in Constructivist Teaching and Learning
Affordances of Technology in Constructivist Teaching and Learning
Jeong and Hmelo-Silver (2016) and Feyzi Behnagh and Yasrebi (2020) have outlined seven key affordances of technology for constructivist and collaborative teaching and learning, as well as corresponding technology examples. Moreover, a variety of possible tools and software applications to facilitate constructivism in practice have been outlined below.
- Engage in a joint task
Technology Examples
Multimedia
Simulation/modeling tool
Digital artifacts (e.g., games, Wikipedia pages)
Possible Applications
Knowledge Forum
Wikipedia
Google Jamboard, Docs, Sheets, Slides
MS Teams
Miro, Coggle, Mural
2. Communicate and carry out distributed synchronous or asynchronous collaboration
2. Communicate and carry out distributed synchronous or asynchronous collaboration
Technology Examples
Chat, threaded discussion, e-mails - Misc. (e.g., peer assessment/review system)
Possible Applications
Learning Management systems (Moodle, Canvas, D2L)
3. Share Resources
3. Share Resources
Technology Examples
Communication technology, data repository, websites
Digital concept map of partner’s meta-knowledge
Annotation tools
Possible Applications
Idea Thread Mapper
Google Jamboard, Docs, Sheets, Slides
MS Teams
Collaborative Learning Annotation System
4. Engage in productive collaborative learning
4. Engage in productive collaborative learning
Technology Examples
Online interface for scripted collaboration
Pre-organized input areas and message labels
Message starters, sentence prompts, and question stems
Possible Applications
Discussion Forums
Knowledge Forum
5. Engage in co-construction
5. Engage in co-construction
Technology Examples
Tangible technologies and shared interfaces
Dialogue or negotiation tools (to support grounding and transactive discussion)
Representational tools
Joint workspaces (as well as or instead of private workspaces)
Possible Applications
Google Docs, Sheets, Slides
MS Teams
Idea Thread Mapper
Knowledge Forum
S-REG
Miro, Coggle, Mural
6. Monitor and regulate collaborative learning
6. Monitor and regulate collaborative learning
Technology Examples
Awareness/mirroring tools
Visualization tools
Meta-cognitive tool with desired behaviors
Intelligent Systems - Learning analytics
Possible Applications
S-REG
Knowledge Forum
Idea Thread Mapper
OnTask
7. Find and build groups and communities
7. Find and build groups and communities
Technology Examples
Peer review/feedback system - Intelligent Systems
Visualization tool
Navigation supports
Social Networking Service
Possible Applications
PeerScholar
Compair
Knowledge Forum
Idea Thread Mapper
S-REG
Social Media Platforms
ACTIVITY: Use this Jamboard to name one or two affordances of constructivism that's relevant to your teaching and learning context. How would you use educational technology to accomplish this?
ACTIVITY: Use this Jamboard to name one or two affordances of constructivism that's relevant to your teaching and learning context. How would you use educational technology to accomplish this?
Designing a Constructivist Approach
Designing a Constructivist Approach
How do you approach using constructivism in a classroom? This is an example of designing a constructivist experience in a course (Taber, 2020):
Begin with a diagnostic assessment - what do the students already know, what are the gaps in their knowledge, is there something they are looking to learn?
Design learning “chunks” - meaningful groups of information appropriate for learners
Formative and summative assessment - knowledge checks, personal assessments to ensure learners are engaged with the concepts, as well as testing, writing, presentations
Active learning - problems and activities that encourage critical thinking and problem solving in social settings, such as group work, debates, interviews, etc.
Application - encourage students to apply the new knowledge to their existing schemas. How does the new knowledge change what they already know? What is the result of the accommodation of the new information?
Reflection - what have the students learned, where would they like to take their learning next?
Watch this video for an example of a constructivist strategy being used with students in an elementary math class.
ACTIVITY: How have you used constructivism? Click on the pink plus symbol to add examples of how you have used constructivist approaches in your teaching and learning.
ACTIVITY: How have you used constructivism? Click on the pink plus symbol to add examples of how you have used constructivist approaches in your teaching and learning.
A Constructivist Learning Environment
A Constructivist Learning Environment
A constructivist learning environment is “a place where learners may work together and support each other as they use a variety of tools and information resources in their pursuit of learning goals and problem-solving activities” (Wilson, 1996, p. 5). Information and communication technologies (ICT), including innovative online tools and applications, can offer access to rich information resources and facilitate authentic collaborative and social constructivist learning (Pailey, 2013).
Activity: Comment on this Google Doc and contribute to our Knowledge Bank! Share a tool or application that enables constructivist teaching and learning
Activity: Comment on this Google Doc and contribute to our Knowledge Bank! Share a tool or application that enables constructivist teaching and learning
Contribute an innovative technology, tool or application that you may have come across in your practice. While this is not an exhaustive list, we hope that through your contributions, we can build this knowledge bank together. Feel free to share and extend this resource with your network.
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