Constructivism

Constructivism has its roots in Jean Piaget’s work with developmental learning in young children, and this theory posits that individuals are active constructors of their own knowledge. Constructivism suggests that individuals accumulate new knowledge based on prior knowledge and experiences and that the process of knowledge construction is guided and shaped by the learner’s physical and cultural environment. While many strands of constructivism have been nominated, they are similar in their positioning of the learner as active and primary in knowledge construction. Importantly, as Sherin will describe, constructivism underscores the incredibly personal nature of learning.