What Is Constructivism Theory and Why Is It Important? 

As education evolves, there have been several developments in learning theories that help tutors assist students in understanding various concepts. Constructivism is one approach that educators have used to help students learn, and you may have been educated through this approach.

What is constructivism? You may have heard about this learning theory and asked yourself what it means. This article will cover the concept of constructivism theory, its importance, learning stages, primary elements, and key benefits. 

Constructivism Theory and Its Importance  

Constructivism is a theory that states that learners create knowledge rather than passively take the information. The theory’s main idea is that you actively make your knowledge, which is determined by your experiences as a learner. You learn more by reflecting on your experiences and incorporating new ideas into prior knowledge. 

The constructivist theoretical approach uses interactive teaching methods like discussions to create a learning environment that allows learners to engage with each other. The theory avoids the mere memorization of content which doesn’t have comprehension. 

Constructivism is important because it allows learners to use their thinking skills, such as problem-solving, to transfer awareness in new and different situations. 

Constructivism not only helps you to improve your problem-solving skills but also helps you to grow in your responsibilities and learn how to function in society by gaining new experiences. For instance, discussion groups can help you learn new ideas from your peers or tutors by actively engaging with each other rather than just passively taking in new knowledge with no new ideas. 

Types of Constructivism Theories  

Generally, there are four main types of constructivist theories in education. 

Trivial or Cognitive Constructivism  

It’s one of the most simple and basic types of constructivism, according to several psychologists. It serves as the foundation for other constructivist ideas. Learners make up knowledge by interpreting personal events based on their cognitive or mental skills. 

Your environment does not simply induce learning but requires active participation. You take in new information and integrate it with what you already know. For example, a learner who already understands multiplication in math can use that information to calculate percentages. 

Radical Constructivism  

This type of constructivism emphasizes the construction of knowledge and that textbook knowledge may not be so meaningful. It means that you must have prior knowledge about something you want to know more about. This concept is radical because its basic idea is that learners’ individuality is deeply connected to how they learn. 

Social Constructivism  

The main concept of this form of constructivism is that your peers and people influence your experiences and learning process. This means that your peers, family, teachers, and administrators directly affect your activities in the learning process. Even outside the context of education, this influence is essential. 

Cultural Constructivism  

This type of constructivism explains that the culture and traditions of a place influence a learner’s opinions about things. This means you can identify factors that make up a person’s opinion by examining their cultural background. 

5 Stages of Constructivism Theory of Learning  

The five stages of constructivist theory allow learners to understand a concept through a series of established steps. These stages include: 

Engage: The educator works to understand the learner’s prior knowledge and identify gaps. 

Explore: Students actively explore the new concept through their learning experiences during this step. The tutors can ask them to communicate with their peers and make observations.

Explain: This is where educators assist learners in integrating the new knowledge and ask any questions for clarity. 

Elaborate: This stage allows students to apply what they have learned to gain a deeper understanding. 

Evaluate: It is the assessment stage where teachers assess their students and see if they understand the main concepts. 

These five stages are essential in constructivism because they promote collaborative and active learning, where students work together to solve and understand new concepts. 

Key Elements of Constructivism  

Many key elements shape constructivism and how it applies to students. Here are its key features. 

• Knowledge is constructed: The basic principle of constructivism means knowledge is built from another knowledge. 
• Learning is an active process: Learners constantly engage with their peers or tutors through interactive methods like engaging in discussions. 
• Individuals learn as they learn: Each concept people know gives them a better understanding of other things in the future. 
• Learning is a social activity: You learn from others, like your peers, educators, or family. 
• Learning is contextual: Students learn in ways connected to what they already understand and believe. 
• Knowledge is personal: Everyone has prior knowledge and unique experiences, so that learning will differ for everyone. 
• Motivation is crucial to learning: It may be challenging for learners to reach into their prior experiences and create connections for new information if they are not motivated. 

Benefits of Constructivism  

The main benefits of the constructivist learning theory include the following: 

• It makes learning enjoyable, whereby learners can use their unique experiences to understand new information rather than just passively listening and accepting new information. 
• Constructivism helps learners develop problem-solving and social skills by engaging with tutors, peers, or family members. 
• It offers students ownership of what they learn because learning is founded on the student’s questions and observations. This increases the chance of retaining and transferring knowledge later in real life. 
• It stimulates the students’ curiosity by grounding learning activities in a real-world context, which helps them question and challenge existing information. 
• It promotes diversity, where learners can use their experiences and cultural backgrounds to learn. 

Closing Thoughts  

Constructivism is an important theory because it allows students to engage in the learning process, making it more enjoyable. Active learning promotes critical thinking, making learners develop problem-solving skills that will help them in the real world. 

Unlike passive learning, constructivism helps students learn new information using prior experiences. Constructivism is an essential learning process that promotes creativity, analysis, and evaluation, making the learning experience exciting.