Teacher and Student in a Constructivist Classroom

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While reading the lecture, I learnt that constructivism is a theory -based on observation and scientific study- about how people learn. This theory is based on the opinion that people construct their own understanding through experiencing things , events, situations and reflecting on these experiences.

Traditionally speaking , a classroom situation was that where the focus was the teacher, being the controller, being the expert , who decides the activities that are about to take place , a classroom where the students are passive learners, and they just wait for the teachers to give the permission to them.

Present day speaking , in a constructivist classroom, both the teacher and the student view knowledge as something new ,modern, that undergoes different developments day to day and that most of all, now the students view the teacher as a facilitator , creating all the time new methods , curriculums that will be useful for the student into the process of learning and above all, this theory of Constructivism , will encourage critical thinking, a 21st century skill.

By using this theory , as a student I expect :
  •    to be more active during classroom activities
  •     to accept more responsibilities  for my own learning
  •     to learn to change my thinking/learning style
  •    to obtain different perspectives so that I can be able to judge situations in different point of views
  •  to be able to cooperate with the teacher
  •  to be able to accommodate and assimilate new information we receive in relation with our current understanding.

I see things in a different perspective whilst using Constructivism in a classroom where I am the student and someone else is a teacher , but hoping that in the future I will be a teacher , Constructivism would be a part of my teaching method , through which I would intent on actualizing some of the basic strategies that are basis for this theory.

Firstly , I would begin by creating a plausible environment for the students as for them to feel comfortable into their process of acquiring knowledge. This would also involve , as I mentioned above earlier , creating a curriculum that would make possible for the students to be able to solve problems , and the teacher from the other side will monitor and guide students so that they can find the correct answers.

Secondly , interaction amongst students will be the focus , so that they can be exposed to different point of views about a particular topic , into which they can involve different experiences , can bring to class a variety of useful data and primary sources of information. As a teacher ,I intent on parting students from the traditional teacher , who was seen as the controller ,and the one they would rely on information for their problem solving activity. So, the students would learn to cooperate and to interact with one another and this would promote  a free learning and acquiring the skill of problem solving.

Thirdly , a strategy that I would use , is Group Working. The students may work in pairs or in groups , where the main issues of achievement would be : critical thinking skill, communicative competence improvement, relating with students’ different background and culture and respecting other students’ perspective. In this way , students will learn how they can work together and to adapt to others’ experiences , and in the end they will decide together , which is the correct alternative for any question.

Beside the strategies that I as a teacher would use in a constructivist classroom but that would also like to participate in as a student , are regarding to the setting of the classroom .
  •                     Student’s identity would be preserved , so students would take full responsibility for their opinions and also respecting those of others.
  •                   The Teacher would ask open-ended questions by always having in mind that students should be given a specific time to think about the questions and to be able to analyze them , using as a backup their experience
  •              Allowing constant conversations between the teacher and the student , by letting students have their own opinion and challenging others’.

To conclude all, using the Constructivist Theory in a classroom would prompt the students since an early age to be able to develop skills needed for this kind of performance , creating self-confidence, solutions and justifications about their words and actions and above all, encouraging other students around them to do the same thing.

Comments

  1. Izabeta Koci14 April 2019 at 11:22

    It was a great job Eva. Your organization and your flow of ideas was a good point. Another good point was when you wrote about your expectations on using constructivism as student and as a teacher to be. The way how you organized your ideas to gice a conclusion was also another element. Keep on like that 👍

    ReplyDelete
  2. Arjola prenga14 April 2019 at 11:58

    You are already thinking in teaching terms and that's just great ! You personalized this theory as a future practice for you as teacher to be and that's great

    ReplyDelete
  3. Kleant Hidri15 April 2019 at 05:06

    It was good that you have listed your expectations at the beginning. With the 3 strategies that you listed there (environment, interaction and group work) we can say that your future class is going to be successful.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Denisa Shemshi grupi E 201915 April 2019 at 09:11

    I liked your post Eva and the way you have dealt with every aspect of the learning process in the classroom following the constructivist theory.I agree with you in the active involvment of the students in the classroom and the comportable space that should be created.Thank you!:)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Suela Karriqi15 April 2019 at 13:35

    I enjoyed reading your post.I like the way how you have made a contrast between the traditional way of teaching and the use of constructivism nowadays including the second and the third paragraph.You have also listed your expectations of using this theory and some ways of actualizing the basic strategies that form constructivism.Good job!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Patricia Shehu Gr E 201915 April 2019 at 13:40

    Your post on this topic one of the best as far as i have read.
    You have a chronological order of ypur thoughts and you expressed what you wanted to say.
    Xx

    ReplyDelete
  7. Valbona Noka7 June 2019 at 08:16

    I appreciate the fact that u explained the constructivist theory as a student and as a teacher as well,and also I'm in that we should try to avoid traditional methods and yeahh,focus on critical thinking !

    ReplyDelete

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