R7

Question: Should schools and curriculum be designed differently, based on the information about constructivism in this article? If so, how?

Quote: “The vision of the constructivist student is one of activity, involvement, creativity, and the building of personal knowledge and understanding” (Airasian & Walsh, 1997, p. 446).

Connection: “ It describes in the broadest of strokes the human activity of knowing and nowhere specifies the detailed craft of teaching” (Airasian & Walsh, 1997, p. 444). This quote clearly relates to James’ writing within Talks To Teachers. It seems that some theories about knowledge and learning are not easily to transferred directly to the complicated practice of teaching in a classroom.

Connection: When this week’s article addresses student learning as opposed to instruction, this make me think of all of the innovations and reforms that are currently being introduced into education. Although learner involvement is important, I connect this to my experiences observing special education students. Can constructivism be applied to teaching students with certain disabilities? Does a teaching approach that stresses constructivism actually help students with disabilities more?