Constructivist/Constructionist Learning and Technology

This week's resources were full of technology-based constructivist/constructionist strategies that can be incorporated into the classroom very easily. One resource that I found highly intriguing was actually from the website listing in chapter 11 of the book Using Technology with Classroom Instruction That Works (Hubbell, Kuhn, Malenoski, & Pitler, 2007, p. 215). This website, entitled "By Kids For Kids: How To Invent" had a number of projects listed such as producing your own television show, creating your own signature style fashion line, and recycling and reinvtening items from the trash. When I first saw these projects listed I was thinking that it was like a guided tutorial that allowed them to create a "prototype" online. I was wrong! I was pleasantly surprised, however, to find that it gave steps for physically creating these projects! Kids of all ages can go to this site and follow the steps listed to create these one of a kind projects. They have to construct their own project using their own materials. This is basic level constructivism. There is no prototype to look at to compare as to whether they are doing it correctly. Just directions for them to follow. They are making something and constructing knowledge along the way.

Another resources I found interesting was another website from the listing in our reading for the week entitled "Practicing with the Catapault" (Hubbell, Kuhn, Malenoski, & Pitler, 2007, p. 215). When I went to this site I noticed immediately that this would be for students at a much higher level of learning, say high school. What I liked is it gave directions for completing the activity but I was immediately drawn to just playing around with the starting height, launch speed, and the like. I was beginning to construct my own knowledge about this particular activity. I had to dig around in my brain to when I was in high school physics and remember what terminal velocity was, however, I was actually able to complete the activity by just trial and error. That is a lot of what constructivism and constructionism is - trial and error. Students are given a problem and a method for finding the solution but they have to do it on their own. It is their job to solve the problem and in the process begin to construct their own knowledge.

There are many other great resources in this book that bring constructivism and constructionism into the classroom that are easily accessible and create seamless instruction. Technology opens up a world to the classroom of opportunities that may have been unattainable in the past. Students are able to create more on their own without much help from the teacher and in the process participate in a learning experience that far outweighs that of any lecture.

Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., Malenoski, K., & Pitler, H. (2007). Using technology with classroom instruction that works. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.