Social Constructivism
![Picture](/uploads/2/8/1/6/28167383/487381.jpg?338)
First introduced by Lev Vygotsky (1896-1934), this theory introduced
the idea that students learn through collaborative learning within their social
environments and internalization of the educational context taking place in their
classrooms. Their experiences shape their ideas and they build upon current
knowledge to develop and construct new ideas.
This theory is important in today’s 21st century classroom because it creates the base for the collaborative, analytical, research based teaching that creates learners who predict, analyze, question, summarize and then synthesis the information to create new ideas and thinking.
Here is a graphic that represents this theory and how it can be applied to the classroom:
Graphic used from: http://www.excelsiorlearningcenter.com/Constructivism.html
This theory is important in today’s 21st century classroom because it creates the base for the collaborative, analytical, research based teaching that creates learners who predict, analyze, question, summarize and then synthesis the information to create new ideas and thinking.
Here is a graphic that represents this theory and how it can be applied to the classroom:
Graphic used from: http://www.excelsiorlearningcenter.com/Constructivism.html
This graphic helps to tell the story of how Social Constructivism can be directly applied to the classroom environment. All of the components represent both the importance of social interaction and collaboration as well as the guidance and tool given by the teacher to promote a collaborative learning experience.
Here are some great resources to learn more about social constructivism and collaborative learning:
http://www.ifets.info/journals/3_2/tam.html
http://www.fountainmagazine.com/Issue/detail/CONSTRUCTIVISM-in-Piaget-and-Vygotsky
http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/ejournals/JTE/jte-v7n1/gokhale.jte-v7n1.html
http://www.ifets.info/journals/3_2/tam.html
http://www.fountainmagazine.com/Issue/detail/CONSTRUCTIVISM-in-Piaget-and-Vygotsky
http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/ejournals/JTE/jte-v7n1/gokhale.jte-v7n1.html