Post Index

• Introduction
• Fundamentals of Constructivist Theory
o Origins and influences
• Key principles of constructivism
o Active and participatory learning
o Construction of knowledge
o Contextualization
o Reflection and metacognition
• Practical implications of Constructivist Theory
o Role of the teacher
o Role of the student
o Assessment of learning
• Most common criticisms of Constructivist Theory

Introduction
In contemporary education, there are multiple theories and
pedagogical approaches that seek to improve processes of
teaching and learning.

One of the most influential approaches is the Constructivist Theory,

This theory has been developed from the works of

Fundamentals of Theory
Constructivist
Origins and influences
• Jean Piaget and Genetic Constructivism: Jean Piaget proposed
genetic constructivism, a theory that holds that the
students actively construct their knowledge through
from the interaction with their environment. According to Piaget, learning
it is an individual process that develops through stages
of cognitive development. Starting from the sensorimotor stage
up to the stage of formal operations.
• Lev Vygotsky and the Zone of Proximal Development: Vygotsky emphasized
the importance of social interaction in the process of
learning. His theory emphasizes the idea of the Zone of Proximal Development
 Next. This theory refers to the gap between what a
student can do independently and what they can
achieve with the help of an adult or more competent peer.
Related article: Piaget's sensorimotor stage
Key principles of constructivism
Active and participatory learning
• Active role of the student in the construction of knowledge:
In constructivism, the student is seen as a participant.
active in their own learning. Rather than being a receiver
passive information, you are encouraged to explore, investigate,
formulate questions and build their own knowledge. This
Knowledge construction is done through interaction.
with its environment.
• Importance of interaction and collaboration among peers:
Constructivism highlights the importance of social interaction.
and the collaboration among the students. Teamwork, the
discussion and the exchange of ideas enable students
building knowledge together, benefiting from
different perspectives and experiences.
Construction of knowledge
• Knowledge as an individual mental construct: according to
constructivism, knowledge is a mental construction
individual that is formed through the student's interaction
with the environment. Each student interprets and organizes the
information according to your previous experiences and your
cultural context.
• Meaningful learning and connection with prior knowledge:
constructivism promotes meaningful learning, which
it happens when students can relate new
information with prior knowledge and experiences
personal. By establishing connections and building on what
you know, students acquire a more solid knowledge
and durable.
Contextualization
• Importance of the environment and experience in learning:
constructivist theory recognizes that learning occurs
in specific contexts and that these contexts influence the
construction of knowledge. The learning environments
they must be authentic, relevant, and meaningful for the
students, which allows them to apply concepts and skills
in real situations.
• Problem solving and practical application of
knowledge: constructivism promotes development of
 problem-solving skills, as students
they face authentic challenges that require the application
of your knowledge in the search for solutions. Through
problem-solving, students acquire a
deeper understanding of the concepts and develop
transferable skills.
Reflection and metacognition
• Reflection on one's own learning process: Reflection is
a central component of constructivism. Students are
encouraged to reflect on their own learning process.
In this way, they examine their strategies, identifying their
strengths and weaknesses, and making adjustments to improve their
performance and understanding.
• Development of metacognitive skills for self-regulation
learning: Constructivism promotes the development of
metacognitive skills, such as planning, the
monitoring and evaluating one's own learning. The
students learn to be aware of their processes of
thinking, to set goals, to select strategies
adequate and to assess their progress, which allows them
self-regulate their learning effectively.
Recommended article: Green pedagogy, what does it consist of?
Practical implications of the Theory
Constructivist
Role of the teacher
• Facilitator and guide instead of a transmitter of knowledge: in the
constructivism, the role of the teacher changes from being a mere
knowledge transmitter to become a facilitator and
learning guide. The teacher creates a conducive environment for
the construction of knowledge. In addition, it provides
guidance, stimulates reflection and provides support to the
students in their learning process.
• Design of activities and learning environments that promote
construction of knowledge: the teacher designs activities and
learning environments that challenge students to
investigate, explore, collaborate, and reflect. Resources are used.
varied. We talk about projects, case studies, debates and
practical activities, to promote active construction of
knowledge.
Role of the student
• Active participation in the construction of their own
learning: in constructivism, it is expected that the
 students should be active participants in their own process of
learning. They are encouraged to ask questions, to explore
different perspectives. Also to seek solutions and to
build your own knowledge through interaction with
the environment and collaboration with their peers.
• Development of skills for problem solving and the
critical thinking: in constructivist theory, it is promoted
development of higher cognitive skills, such as the
critical thinking, logical reasoning, and problem solving
problems. Students learn to pose and analyze
problems, to generate creative ideas, to evaluate evidence and to
make informed decisions.
Assessment of learning
• Focus on understanding and applying knowledge:
assessment focuses on understanding and application of
knowledge instead of mere memorization of facts. It
they use different evaluation strategies. For example
projects, presentations, portfolios, and authentic assessments.
• Formative assessment and constructive feedback:
formative assessment plays a fundamental role in the
constructivism, as it provides feedback
constant and timely to guide learning. The teacher
provides constructive feedback that highlights achievements,
identify areas for improvement and provide guidance for the
continuous growth of the student.
Most common criticisms of the Theory
Constructivist
• Lack of emphasis on disciplinary knowledge: some criticisms
they argue that constructivism does not place enough emphasis on
the acquisition of specific knowledge of the disciplines.
This could limit the depth and breadth of learning.
• Excessive dependence on context and experience
individual: another common criticism is that constructivism can
to give little importance to the universal and objective aspects of
knowledge. Thus, it focuses too much on experience
individual and the personal context of the students.
And that’s it for the post about constructivist theory! I hope you all
there's an interesting result, and of course... we'll read each other in the
next entry!