Constructivist theory

• Mathematics
• Primary Education

Element 2 - Wider Context 

T - Level in Education & Early Years

Manpreet Phagura 

Session 1 

Core Paper A 

Learning Objectives 

By the end of the session, all learners will be able to:

1. Understand the term Constructivism and pedagogical approaches it informs.
   
2. Clearly explain Piaget's Cognitive development theory. 
   
3. Engage in formative assessment tasks to review, recall and apply knowledge to current session. 

Based on your experiences
in industry placement, list 3 activities suitable for
your specific age range that supported
children to construct knowledge.

Understanding Constructivism

Constructivism is an approach taken by theorists who believe learning is an active process where a child needs to physically partake in their own learning. Educators often adopt a constructivist approach, as it allows children and students to play an active role in building their own understanding of concepts.

There are two types of constructivism - Cognitive & Social. 

Jean Piaget

Jerome Bruner

David Kolb

Bergman & Sams

Lev Vygotsky

Understanding Constructivism

In small groups of 3, research the following pedagogical 

approaches that inform constructivist based learning. 

Enquiry Based learning, modelling, scaffolding and commentary

Groups will be allocated by the spinwheel.

You will feed back your responses on the classroom padlet. 

https://padlet.com/manpreet_phagura/constructivism-o7p1xizlejatxwcq

Who was Jean Piaget?

Piaget was originally a zoologist, but he became involved and interested in how children develop intelligence, he was fascinated to research how children develop their own logic. For example: His research showed that children of the same age normally have a similar approach to answering a specific question.

To form the basis of his theory he observed his own children to understand their thinking processes. He soon then began to experiment with children of different ages to explain how cognitive changes and develops over time in reflection of their individual experiences. 

Q&A

Why is it important we understand who Piaget was?

Sensorimotor stage (Birth - 2 Years)

Infants and children are encouraged to a build an understanding for themselves, including the ability to differentiate between two or more objects. 

Infants often develop an understanding of the world through their movements and sensations. 

Basic actions such as: sucking, grasping and looking help children learn. 

Infants learn through object permanence (things exists when not in sight).

During this period children go through a period of dramatic growth and learning, often interaction with their learning is a contributing factor of this. 

Children's hands on experiences contribute to the development of healthy neurological connections, aiding memory and meaningful experiences. As these experiences form, children begin to engage in schematic development

In pairs describe the role of the early years educator in supporting the sensorimotor stage.

Pre - Operational stage (2- 7 years)

In this stage children become active users of symbols (symbolic play) often in their play. 

For example: "A cardboard box is a car".

Children then share these experiences with everyone, which is often why they become egocentric. 

Children of this age start to develop abstract thinking, where their imagination begins to form concepts that may not exist: (A Lizard has wings).

Children often begin to represent animism in this age range, "my sun is smiling".

What does object permanence mean?

1. Using life like feelings to describe an object.
2. Things exist when not in sight.
3. Not being able to see from other perspective.
4. When something is not in sight its disappeared.

Concrete Operational ( 7 - 11 years)

Children of this age become more abstract in their thinking and they way they understand the world, the consider concepts such as time and space.

During this stage children become less ego centric and begin to consider how people are feeling and the opinions of others. 

Conservation often occurs during this age, this a form of problematic thinking. It believed children begin to understand that even when things are presented differently they can be they are still the same. 

Class discussion:

Based on the video, let's discuss different ways and reasons why conservation occurs. 

Formal Operational (11+)

The last stage of Piaget's cognitive development theory, children become more able to understand situations and solve abstract problems.  Children begin to develop emerging logical thinking processes.

Children are able to understand situations, for example: What would you do if someone gave you £1000 to do badly in an exam?

Strategy based games become more enjoyable. 

This age range and stage of development is the hallmark for the development of cognition.

Identify 2 strategy based activities that
will support cognitive development
during the formal operational stage.

Group collaboration task (Connect)

In preparation for next week's sessions, you will be asked to: 

Pair with someone on your table & then find another pair from a different table. (Creating a group of 4)

You will work as a team, to create a 5 minute presentation on Piaget's schematic development. 

Your presentation must include: 

• Key terminology associated with schematic development. 
  
• Examples from own knowledge or work placement experiences. 
  
• Active research, with 3 correct referenced sources (refer to Harvard guide). 
  
• Must engage your class peers (consider questions). 

Based on today's session identify one area of Piaget's theory you are comfortable with explaining.