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Have you in your own education, your children’s education, or in a school you’ve taught at experienced a constructivist approach to education? If so, describe some of the impact (positive or negative) you experienced/witnessed.
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93 Replies
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I have experienced it in my class. When I allow them to come up with project ideas, some work better and have produced great projects with such ideas while I see some struggle and wonder what to do.
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Yes, I have experienced a constructivist approach in education, which emphasizes student-centered learning and active engagement in the learning process. One positive impact was that students became more independent thinkers, developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills. However, a potential downside was that some students struggled without clear guidance, especially those who needed more structure or support in grasping foundational concepts.
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Yes, I’ve experienced a constructivist approach in my own education, and I’ve seen it in my children’s education as well. One positive impact I noticed was that it made learning more engaging and fun. Instead of just sitting and listening to a teacher talk, we got to work on projects, experiment with ideas, and figure things out for ourselves. This hands-on approach helped me and my kids really understand concepts better, and we felt more involved in the learning process.
However, one downside I observed is that not every student thrives in this environment. Some kids, including my own at times, found it challenging when there wasn’t enough structure or clear direction. They needed more guidance and struggled with too much freedom in how they learned. Overall, though, it encouraged more creativity and problem-solving, which I think is valuable.
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I have seen teachers use this approach to great effect, but only for students who are highly motivated internally and who are highly creative or artistic. Other students seek out the path of least resistance: “What is the easiest choice?”
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Some of my teachers for my teaching credential, and some of my colleagues, highly value the constructivist approach, and do a lot of projects where students are making most of the decisions. It can seem chaotic, but some students really enjoy it, and there can be deep learning when the individual student is actively involved and working hard. However, some students may get overwhelmed or have zero internal motivation to learn.
