CONSTRUCTIVISM: KNOWLEDGE CONSTRUCTION/

CONCEPT LEARNING
Module 14
LEARNING OUTCOMES:

• Explain the role of constructivism in facilitating

learning.
• Describe strategies to promote knowledge
construction.
• Describe strategies to facilitate concept learning.
“TEACHING IS NOT ABOUT FILLING UP THE PAIL; IT IS ABOUT
LIGHTING A FIRE”
-WILLIAMS BUTLER YEAST TREATS

• What concept/ ideas/ image came to your mind when

you read the lines?
 Constructivism

Views of Constructivism Characteristics of Organizing Knowledge

Constructivism

Individual Constructivism

Social Constructivism
Individual Constructivism
- It also called “cognitive constructivism”
- It emphasizes individual, internal
construction of knowledge
- It largely based on Piaget’s theory
 Social Constructivism
- This View emphasizes that “knowledge exists
in a social context and is initially shared with
others instead of being represented solely in
the mind of individual.”
- It is based on Vygotsky’s theory
 Characteristic of Constructivism
1. Learners construct understanding
2. New learning depends on current
understanding
3. Learning is facilitated by social
interaction
4. Meaningful learning occurs within
authentic learning task
Organizing knowledge

Concept
- is a way of grouping or categorizing objects or
events in our mind.

Concept as Feature List

Defining features – is a characteristic present in ALL
instance.

Correlation Features - is one that is present in many positive

instances but no essential for concept membership
Concepts as Prototypes
Prototype - is an idea or visual image of a “typical” example

Concepts as Exemplars
Exemplars – represent a variety of examples.
Making Concept-learning Effective
1. Provide a clear definition of the concept
2.Make a defining features very concrete and prominent
3.Give a variety of positive instances
4.Give negative instances
5.Cite a “best examples” or a prototype
6.Provide opportunity for learners to identify positive
and negative instances
7.Ask learners to think of their own example of the
concept
8.Point out how concepts can be related to each other
Schemas – is an organized body of knowledge about something

Scripts - is a schema that includes a series of

predictable events about a specific activity
What is your role as a
future teacher?
Your role is to bring learners to construct their
own knowledge such that they have a well
organized set of concepts. Aim to make clear of
those concepts that are still vague for them,
and to pave the way for them to overcome
misconceptions.
Applying Constructivism in Facilitating Learning

 aim to make learners understand a few key ideas in

an in-depth. manner, rather that taking up so may
topics superficially.
Give varied examples.
Provide opportunities for quality interaction.
Have lots of hands-on activities.
Relate your topic to real life situations.
Do not depend on the explanation method all the
time.
Thank you!