Knowledge Construction Learning Log

What?
This week we studied chapter 7 and learned about contructivism. Constructivism believes learning to be an active process in which learners construct their own meaning based on prior knowledge and experience. We compared learning to the root system of a tree. The roots gather the nutrients (or memories/experiences) that they need and then shoot out more and more roots. Because they are building off of older roots, we can see the resemblance between how we learn. Our knowledge continues to grow as we form new schemas based on prior knowledge and experiences.

In the chapter, it also talked about how we need to help students make multiple connections when teaching them new information because it will help them store it in their long term memory. By working in groups to solve problems, social constructivism, they will be able to get a larger view of the world and its perspectives, and they will also be able to gain a better understanding of the content.

So What?
We obviously want our students to remember what we are teaching them, so each of the theories that we are learning will help us along the way. Constructivism focuses on making multiple connections and building off of prior knowledge which is extremely feesible to do in the classroom. We should strive to help our students organize the information that they are learning into the correct schema by giving positive and negative examples of the content. We should also strive to create a community of learners; a class in which the teacher and students actively and collaboratively work to help one another learn.

Now What?
In my field experience for this class, I'm excited to see these theories at work. It will be interesting to see if the cooperating teacher implements activation of the students prior knowledge in order to help them learn the material. It will also be interesting to see whether or not the teacher uses group work to engage the students. Social constructivism is important for students to experience so it would be fascinating to see how teachers use it in the classroom.