``Department of Education, University of the People

EDUC 5010: Education in Context

Dr. Debra Cahl

November 29, 2021

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Theories of Education

Teachers need to be equipped with the essential skills in order to foster students’

development and ensure that they reach their full potential. In order to cater to the varied needs

of learners, teachers have adopted different theories of learning which they use as a base for

teaching and learning. When you understand the different learning theories you are able to use

different strategies to ensure that students have the best learning experiences. According to

Fulbrook (2019) “Learning theories are a set of principles that explain how best a student can

acquire, retain and recall new information.”

Learning Theories fall under four main categories: Behaviourism, Cognitivism

Constructivism and Humanist. Based on my readings I have adopted the Constructivism theory

of education. I subscribe to this theory because I believe that in this age we the aim of education

should be about educating the child as a whole and not just teaching them from textbooks. I also

like the idea of Constructivism because it is a student centered approach.

Constructivists Approach

The Constructivist Approach is an approach to teaching and learning that recognizes that

people learn through observations and scientific study. When learners experience things and

reflect on their experiences they are able to construct their own understanding and knowledge of

the world. When we discover new things we have to integrate it with our previous ideas and

experience which might change our beliefs or allow us to discard the new information as

irrelevant. Proponents of this theory believes that we are active creators of our own knowledge

therefore, we should ask questions, explore our environments, and assess our knowledge. The

founders of constructivism include Russian psychologist Lev Vygotsky, Swiss psychologist Jean

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Piaget, American psychologist Jerome Bruner, and American philosopher and psychologist John

Dewey. HRDevelopmentinfo (2016)

John Dewey believes that learners should be actively involved in their own learning as

they construct knowledge based on their experiences. Learners develop schemas to organize

acquired knowledge so that when events occur, they are able to reflect on their experiences and

integrate the new ideas with their prior knowledge. He also believes that “As an educator, it is

important to understand the theory of constructivist learning. Each student that enters your

classroom has a unique perspective on life that has been created by their unique experiences.

This will impact their learning. If the basis of the constructivist theory states that students

construct new knowledge on what they have already had, the entry point of their learning journey

is of utmost importance. Learning theories are as valuable as credentials to educators; it is

important to understand what will affect the learning journey of your students.” (Kurt, 2021).

Lev Vygotsky developed Social Constructivism and believed that when children interact

socially it leads to their development because their learning abilities are highlighted when they

are guided by adults.

Key Concepts in the Constructivist Theory

When I think about Constructivism the following words come to my mind.

 Active – Learning is active as children are engaged in hands-on activities. They interact

with each other by asking and answering questions about a particular topic.

 Reflective – Learners have to be constantly reflecting on their experiences so that they

can find new ways of doing things.

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  Accountability – Students are accountable for their own learning and have the

responsibility of playing their part in collaborative efforts.

 Collaborative – Students have to be constantly collaborating with each other in order to

complete a task through group works, projects etc.

 Problem Solvers – Students have to investigate, ask and answer questions, then come up

with solutions in order to solve problems.

Advantages of Constructivist Learning

Some authors argue about the advantages and disadvantages of the Constructivists Approach.

HRDevelopmentinfo has also proposed a list of advantages and disadvantages.

 Students have to rely on active, hands-on tasks in order to engage with lessons and gain

knowledge about a topic.

 The teacher acts as a guide and facilitator in a controlled environment to help students

create their own ideas and assess their understanding of a topic

 Student’s prior knowledge about a topic is engaged. Therefore, it combines prior

knowledge in order to eliminate any inaccuracies regarding new knowledge.

 Students develop self-confidence as a result of finding conclusions on their own.

 Student’s critical thinking and problem solving skills are stimulated because of the work

they have to do in order to reach a conclusion.

 Students are encouraged to explore, experiment and conduct research on topics of

interest.

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  Students are able to interact with each other, and learn as a team, which will help them

develop Teamwork for the future.

 Students are allowed choices in activities.

 Students help their peers to formulate conclusions in order to, maximize knowledge

construction.

 Students have to deal with complex issues which prepares them to face real world issues.

Disadvantages of Constructivist Learning

 The strategies require a lot of preparation time for the teacher.

 It takes a long time to get the students accustomed to this approach.

 Students might develop the wrong conclusion because they are too active.

 The teacher has difficulty assessing whether or not the student has reached the correct

conclusions.

 It can affect the learning process for those students who require considerable support to

master previously learnt knowledge.

 It requires more assessment strategies than in standard teaching.

 The theory needs to be adapted to the student’s level of development so it only works for

some students.

 It is not compatible with certain subjects or a standardized curriculum, as some students

might need more time to complete certain tasks. 

 A different grading system is required than because the efforts of students need to be

taken into consideration even if he or she has not reached the right conclusions.

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How Does Constructivism Work in my Classroom?

I totally agree with Dewey that children learn best by doing. Therefore, it is my

responsibility to promote active learning in my classroom using student-centered activities. I

have to ensure that I provide my students with the best learning experiences they need in order to

develop the skills they need to function in society. I make sure that I get to know my students so

that I can identify their needs and ensure that my lessons are differentiated to cater to these

varied needs. My class is always “full of action” as students are constantly engaged in enquiry

based learning activities in which they have to think creatively and critically and develop

problem-solving skills. My students are always encouraged to ask and answer questions instead

of just sitting and being passive learners.

We are now living in an era where technology is the backbone of all education system.

We have to understand that in this unpredictable world, where the skills that students need to

learn are different from those learnt in the 20th century. Students are now required to learn 21st

century skills. Based on my experience of working in an IB school I have learnt that they have

adopted the Principle of Constructivism in their classrooms because according to Ibo.org

“Throughout all IB programmes, students develop approaches to learning skills and the attributes

of the IB learner profile. The IB learner is positively challenged to think critically and to learn in

a flexible environment crossing disciplinary, cultural and national boundaries. IB students take

responsibility for their own learning and understand how knowledge itself is constructed,

underpinned by our unique theory of knowledge (TOK) course.” Teachers, therefore, have to

provide support for students and create opportunities for them to interact with each other and

engage in real-life experiences through cooperative groups, projects, etc. so the true purpose of

education will be realized.

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References

Drew, C. (2020). What Is Constructivism in Education? Piaget’s Pros & Cons. What is
Constructivism in Education? Piaget's Pros & Cons (helpfulprofessor.com)

Fulbrook, P. (2019). What are Learning Theories? https://teacherofsci.com/learning-theories-

HRDevelopmentinfo, (2016). The Pros and Cons of Constructivism in Modern Day Education.
The Pros and Cons of Constructivism in Modern Day Education – HRDevelopmentinfo.com

Ibo.org. Why the IB is different. https://www.ibo.org/benefits/why-the-ib-is-different/

Kurt, S. (2021). Constructivist Learning Theory. Constructivist Learning Theory - Educational