Co-construction of Knowledge : What is Social Constructivism?

What is Social Constructivism?

Constructivist education is when . . .
. . . learners actively construct meaning by building on background knowledge, experience and reflect on those experiences.
- See more at: http://imaginationsoup.net/2011/01/what-is-a-constructivist-classroom/#sthash.sFZtoMpc.dpuf

This definition was inspired by the Model of Social Constructivism that I found on a blog created by Dartz Dodd.

Constructivist Perspective

Our final perspective is the constructivist perspective. Constructivism proposes the idea that the learner constructs, rather than absorbs, knowledge from his or her experiences. According to the constructivism perspective:

The learner is self-directed, creative and innovative.
The learner is encouraged to learn truths about the environment and the world by arriving at conclusions based on his or her background, culture or worldview.
The responsibility of learning falls primarily on the learner, while the teacher's role is that of a facilitator.
Collaborative learning is also a key component of this perspective.

The article by Beaumi Kim defines Social Constructivism as:


Lev Vygotsky

The video below defines Lev Vygotsky's Zone of Proximal Development

Jerome Bruner

Bruner-graphic

Jerome Bruner's term "scaffolding refers to the steps taken to reduce the degree of freedom in carrying out some task so that the child can concentrate on the difficult skill she is in the process of acquiring" (Bruner, 1978, p. 19). "Scaffolding involves helpful, structured interaction between an adult and a child with the aim of helping the child achieve a specific goal."