Presentation by M. J.

Perkins for EDUC 5160, Primary

What is constructivism?
Constructivism is not a theory, instead it might best be

described as an umbrella under which many theories fit (see

Woolfolk and Margetts 2013, p. 322)

Phillips (1997) proposed to split constructivism into two separate

strands: psychological constructivism and social constructivism.

See also Woolfolk and Margetts (2013, pp. 322-324) -

psychological/individual constructivism and McInerny (2014, p.

5) - different definitions

De Vries (2004, p. 1) argues that the term constructivism is often

used in quite a generalist way, which does not consider its

implications or deeper meaning and explains why von Glaserfeld
described it as a wooly area (1997)

Lets see what you construct!

Task
should
take about
James Bonds Lotus from the
Spy
who loved
me. 7 minutes
http://www.nydailynews.com/autos/rides-james-bond-gallery1.1190169?pmSlide=1.1190179

Individually, take out pen and paper and draw an

image of something that moves fast, can go on land

and swim in water the quality of the drawing is not
important. Do not peek!
Now show your drawings to the others on your table
and discuss what you have drawn. As a group decide on
another drawing it might be one you have already
created.
Finally, as groups show the class what you have drawn
and discuss your images.
Heres what I had in mind.

Not all as it seems!?

While there is some consensus as to what is a constructivist theory,

there is no total consensus as to which theories fall under which strand

One main disagreement is about the way knowledge is constructed

De Vries (2004, p. 5), specifically regarding Piaget, McInerny (2014, p.

5) and Woolfolk and Margetts (2013, pp. 322-324) all have differing
definitions, especially regarding the detail

De Vries (2004, p. 5) points out that Piagets theory has to be adapted to

practice. This surely must apply to all theories.

Application in the school context

https://rlpearson67.wordpress.com/2013/08/06/are-we-askingthe-right-questions/ (accessed 12.06.2015)

http://constructivism512.pbworks.com/w/page/163
97299/Constraints+of+Constructivism (accessed
10.06.2015)

How can constructivism be applied to teaching?

Pre-school approaches, which might be seen as social constructivist

(Edwards 2005), also have merit for the primary school. Stephen, Ellis
and Martlew (2010), specifically discuss this in relation to active
learning and its application to primary school.

Schaffer says that Piagets legacy sees the young childs interaction with

its environment as essential for learning (Schaffer 2004, p. 164 cited in

Stephen, Ellis and Martlew 2010, p. 317) and Stephen, Ellis and Martlew
(2010, p. 319) specifically consider the physical environment as part of
the active learning process.

Malaguzzis Reggio Emilia approach

Based on social constructivism, it was developed for early childhood

education (Dodd-Nufrio 2011) and is now also being applied in primary

schools, but to a lesser extent (see for example Sheidow Park Primary
school, http://www.sheidowps.sa.edu.au/for-parents/ourcurriculum.html accessed 27.05.2015 and http://www.reaie.org.au/)

As there is no template it is more about guiding principles. The positive

image of the child is one key principle (Dodd-Nufrio 2011, p. 237)

One can understand why the educators in Reggio Emilia have termed

the environment a third teacher because of the power environments

have to inform and shape the kind of learning that will happen in the
room. (Fraser 2006, p. 102)

The traditional classroom

In groups discuss how you could turn this room into an
environment that considers the following principles:
1. Aesthetics
2. Active learning
3. Collaboration
4. Transparency
5. Bringing the outdoors in
6. Flexibility
7. Relationship
8. Reciprocity
Following Fraser (2006, p. 108)

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a9/Klassenraum_Grundschule.jpg (accessed
20.06.2015)(accessed 20.06.2015)

The Reggio Emilia classroom

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/188517934376160433/ (accessed 21.06.2015)

References

De Vries, R 2004, What is constructivist about constructivist education?, The Constructivist, vol. 15, no. 1, pp. 1-26.
Dodd-Nufrio, A T 2011, Reggio Emilia, Maria Montessori, and John Dewey: Dispelling Teachers Misconceptions and
Understanding Theoretical Foundations, Early Childhood Education, vol. 39, pp. 235-237.
Edwards, S 2005, Constructivism does not happen in the individual: sociocultural theory and early childhood education,
Early Child Development and Care, vol. 175 , no. 1, pp. 37-47.
McInerney, D M 2014, Educational Psychology: constructing learning, 6th edition, Pearson Australia, Frenchs Forest, NSW.
Fraser, S 2006, Authentic childhood: experiencing Reggio Emilia in the classroom, Thomson/Nelson, Toronto, Ontario.
Phillips, D 1997, How, why, what, when, and where: Perspectives on constructivism in psychology and education, Issues in
Education, vol. 3, p. 151.
(http://web.b.ebscohost.com.ezlibproxy.unisa.edu.au/ehost/detail/detail?vid=4&sid=d62553c7-0a9e-42be-90192a88f27a0155%40sessionmgr115&hid=128&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=aph&AN=967848
accessed 13.06.2015)
Stephen, C, Ellis, J and Martlew, J 2010, Taking active learning into the primary school: a matter of new practices?,
International Journal of Early Years Education, vol. 18, no. 4, pp. 315-329.
von Glasersfeld, E 1997, Amplification of a constructivist perspective, Issues in Education, vol. 3, p. 203.
(http://web.b.ebscohost.com.ezlibproxy.unisa.edu.au/ehost/detail/detail?vid=5&sid=d62553c7-0a9e-42be-90192a88f27a0155%40sessionmgr115&hid=128&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=aph&AN=967850
accessed 13.06.2015)
Woolfolk, A and Margetts, K 2013, Educational psychology, 3rd edition, Australasian edition, Pearson Education, Frenchs
Forest, NSW.
Images:
http://www.nydailynews.com/autos/rides-james-bond-gallery-1.1190169?pmSlide=1.1190179 (accessed 18.06.2015)
https://rlpearson67.wordpress.com/2013/08/06/are-we-asking-the-right-questions/ (accessed 12.06.2015)
http://constructivism512.pbworks.com/w/page/16397299/Constraints+of+Constructivism (accessed 10.06.2015)
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a9/Klassenraum_Grundschule.jpg (accessed 20.06.2015)
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/188517934376160433/ (accessed 21.06.2015)