Now that you have had an opportunity to look at the information contained in our site, engage with your colleagues and discuss at least one of the following questions:
Question One
Constructivism claims that learning is an active process. Richard Fox (2001) criticizes this claim and states:
This, the most central and insistent claim of constructivism, seems, as it stands, to be either misleading or untrue. Human beings, and animals in general, certainly do acquire knowledge of their environments by acting upon the world about them; however they are also acted upon. We do things and have things done to us; we act and we react, and clearly we can learn from both types of experience….Why, then, should constructivism emphasise only one pole of human experience? (p. 24).
Do you agree or disagree with Fox’s statement? Explain your viewpoint.
Question Two
What are your experiences working with constructivism? Share the types of constructivist activities that you have done in the classroom (or if you are not in a classroom – consider any learning environment). What worked well? Reflect on changes that you would make or improve, if necessary.
Please return to the mindmap and add further comments, make connections, or change any misconceptions.
Reference
Fox, R. (2001). Constructivism examined. Oxford Review of Education, 27(1), 23-35.