Constructivist Approach to Learning of Mathematics

Radical Constructivism in education psychology, and applied as a theory associated with Jean Piaget (18961980);

Used

Who

mental categories are not innate but are constructed during childhood development in response to interactions with the environment.
put forward the idea that

Piaget, as a pioneer of radical constructivism, assumes an objective reality that we apprehend thru the construction of cognitive

patterns
influences.

in

response

to

environmental

Social Constructivism in the 1920s by Soviet psychologist Lev. S. Vygotsky (1896-1934) perceived that the mind is not within the individual but in the individual-in-social-

Pioneered

Who

interaction.

 According

to Vygotsky, the learning process

is not passive reception of a pre existing, objective reality, but a process of creation in

which the child constructs experiences thru

interactions with his/her social environment.

In the social constructivists point of view, human understanding of the world is not an interpretation of within what the actually is, but

summary
context.

of

attitudes

formed
present

by

social

interactions

historical

Constructivism can be explained as follows :

Individuals learning is not passive but active, i.e. individuals act on the environment to construct knowledge. The process of knowledge construction is developmental and evolutional; it is not static but dynamic.

Knowledge is not an explanation of truth, but as rationalization of individuals experiences. Every individual constructed knowledge. Constructivism Theory assumed that knowledge will not exist outside the mind, but can be created in the mind based on actual experience.

Comparison of the differences of constructivists view based on the cognitive development between Piaget and Vygotsky
Cognitive Development 1. Basic idea Jean Piaget * Lev. S. Vygotsky **

2. Readiness state
3. socialcultural view 4. Language 5. T-L situation 6. Source of knowledge

natural
* * Pupil-centered Radical constructivist

Speed-up
** ** Environmentcentered Social constructivist

1. Basic idea * individual cognitive development proceeds according to the four stages (i.e. from sensory motor stage pre-operational stage concrete operational stage formal operational stage ) and cannot over step.

**level of cognitive development can be upgraded within the area of ZPD, thru the assistance of adult or more capable peers.

3. Social cultural view * emphasize individuals subjective knowledge construct, and did not pay much attention on the influence of social culture. **stress on the importance of the influence of the social culture on the individual cognitive development

4. Language * develop from egocentric speech

** develop from private, or inner speech thru social interactions.

The idea of constructivism was originated from Piagets Cognitive Development Theory and Vygotskys Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD). In the context of constructivism, Piagets opinion towards the source of knowledge is proactive, and focus mainly in the process of mental adaptations; while Vygotsky tended to advocate social constructivism and emphasized the important role of the environment.