Dr. Orey described constructionism as maintaining equilibration which is the “process of achieving a balance between differences in external reality and ones current beliefs and understanding or schema (Laureate Education Inc., 2011).” When students receive information which is different from what they already know they either assimilate it to fit with what they already know or they accommodate the information by coming up with a new way to look at the world. Dr. Orey stated that most people assimilate new information with the exception of young children who often go through the accommodation process.
I teach kindergarten to five and six year old students, which means that my students are often in a state of disequilibration and having to learn new information and construct a new reality. Just the other day I was working on my concept map and the class went on a virtual field trip to a dairy farm. At the end of the video a student raised his hand and asked “where are the chocolate cows?” I almost laughed out loud but asked him to explain what he meant. He responded by saying “well I see all of the white milk cows, but where are the chocolate milk cows?” It was so funny! The rest of the class began to nod in agreement and I had to tell them that all cows are white milk cows and that people put the chocolate syrup in the milk at a factory. In that moment most of my class was going through the process of accommodation to recover from the state of disequilibration. As funny as it was for me, it is moment’s just like this, where all of my student are engaged, that I can use their inquiry to teach them something new. I could even further their inquiry by having them construct a project based on the answers they find with further investigation.Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2011). Program seven: Constructionist and constructivist learning theories [Video webcast]. Bridging learning theory, instruction and technology. Retrieved from http://laureate.ecollege.com/ec/crs/default.learn?CourseID=5700267&CPURL=laureate.ecollege.com&Survey=1&47=2594577&ClientNodeID=984650&coursenav=0&bhcp=1
Pitler, H., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., & Malenoski, K. (2007). Using technology with classroom
instruction that works. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.
I agree that Constructionist learning is where students are using technology to create an artifact. Project-based learning is one way to put constructionist learning in the classroom, and students love it, because they can use technology. If you want them to learn let them use technology where they are building an artifact. That is the constructionist learning theory.
ReplyDeleteKay,
ReplyDeleteHow do you use technology to create artifacts in your room? What technology do you incorporate?
Chelsea Blaius Lewis
Students sometimes enter my art room with preconceived ideas that put them in a state of disequilibration also. I also make it a teachable moment as well by modeling or using technology to research the topic in question. The discussions that follow help students gain knowledge of different perspectives that they can in turn use to generate hypotheses, test, and to help build upon their final results.
ReplyDeleteChelsea, nice story it must be fun to encounter so many moments that are hilarious upon reflection. I like how you tied the process of disequilibrium and accommodation to your story. I always tell my students that they are not learning anything until they begin to ask questions. It is from disequilibrium and the students attempts to resolve it that the question arise. Very nice post.
ReplyDeleteCindy and Doug,
ReplyDeleteI can see how when you encourage questions you are helping students overcome their disequilibration. As you both put it: questions are asked because students are in some stage of disequilibration. I agree that we as teachers need to use these moments to teach and expand our students knowledge!
Chelsea Blasius
Chelsea & Cody
ReplyDeleteI use lots of different software such as moviemaker to create movies, access to record data, excelto create spreadsheets, publisher to create newsletters, post cards, signs, posters etc, microsoftword to type letters, reports, create trading cards, newsletters, newsarticles, powerpoint to create presentations, I use webcams, video cameras, to list a few things I use in my class.