Constructivism Theory (Research Paper) - 1100 Words

Constructivism Theory (Research Paper) (Research Paper Sample) Content: Constructivism TheoryStudents NameInstitutional Affiliation Constructivism TheoryConstructivism is a theory based on the scientific study and observation of how humans generate knowledge, and learn from the interaction of their experiences and their ideas (Boekle, Rittberger Wagner, 2011). The experiences provide a platform for reflection in creating their own understanding and gaining knowledge of the world. The learning process starts during infancy from the interaction between the reflexes/patterns and their experiences a condition known as schemata (Fosnot Perry, 1996). The education sector has experienced a significant shift and progress in the nature of human learning. This is seen from increased conditions that are implemented to promote the varied dimensions of human learning. Human learning has been a gradual process occurring in different stages; behaviorism, cognitivism and constructivism. Constructivism focuses on how people learn and is one of the most i nfluential methods of learning applied. Various efforts and perspectives from constructivist theorists have increasingly influenced and represented a paradigm shift in the theory of learning and epidemiology of knowledge. This resulted in the formation of constructivism theory. Conceptual changes fundamental to perceptions of teaching and learning are reflected in the literature-based approaches that share constructivist roots and are contained in the current school textbooks and study materials.Constructivism proposes that knowledge conception by the learner comes from his or her own meaning-making process of creating individual interpretations of own experiences. According to Schunk (2000), the disparity gives rise to different notions of knowledge nature and constructivism: endogenous constructivism, exogenous constructivism and dialectical constructivism. Endogenous constructivism proposes that knowledge construction is stimulated by the internal conflict of an individual in the search to solve mental disequilibrium. Exogenous constructivism focuses on the ability of individual mental structures to reflect on the experiences of nature in forming the realities experienced (Boekle, Rittberger Wagner, 2011).Philosophical Underpinnings of Constructivism TheoryConstructivism is rooted in different disciplines including education, philosophy and psychology. Some educators find constructivism a hard-to-define and an elusive concept of a philosophical nature than an instructional theory or model. However, constructivism theory allows for the viewing of a learner as an active participant in developing knowledge, instructional experience through the process of meaning-making and perception creation (Jonassen Rohrer-Murphy, 1999). Some situations, activities and social interactions are constantly offering challenges to the learners understanding resulting to new meanings. Overcoming these challenges has been made possible by a clear understanding of the context that frames knowledge because the activity is as important to the learner as the knowledge itself. Cognition or knowledge in constructivism is indexed to the learned experiences which yield infinite juxtapositions and multiple representations. According to Jonassen Rohrer-Murphy (1999), lack of this vital information of constructivism is detrimental to the learner as it would be impossible to note how constructivism theory works without understanding the philosophical underpinnings of its foundation which include;The social framework (context) for learning is as important as the content Learners actively engage in the process of constructing knowledge; Knowledge is most useful when the learner understands how to successfully apply it within a larger community; Knowledge is flexible and changes as a learner has new experiences Instruction is intended to support construction of knowledge, not simply communicate it.Constructivist TheoristsJerome BrunerBruner is one of the constructivist t heorists whose enormous contribution led to the understanding of the educational process. While working as a professor in Harvard University, Bruner developed interest in cognitive development of children where he wrote a much praised literature work The Process of Education to illuminate his views on constructivism. His stand on the constructivism theory is that learners develop their own knowledge based on the things they know now and also known in the past (Boekle, Rittberger Wagner, 2011). Further research studies conducted by American psychologist on Bruners finding revealed that exploring the transfer of specific skills and the value gained from learning greatly influences the learners analysis, memory and judgment. Bruner argued that the thinking process transfer requires fundamental principles of a subject rather than mastering facts from one context to another and advocated for learning through enquiry, with the teachers guidance. According to Schunk (2000), Bruner organiz ed The Process of Education into four themes that engineered the understanding of constructivism including;The motives of learningReadiness for learningAnalytical and Intuitive thinkingThe role of structure in learning and how it can be central in teaching.Lev Semenovich VygotskyVygotsky was a Russian theorist of constructivism who greatly influenced the learning and development theories. He wrote many literature works that revolved around psychology before succumbing to tuberculosis aged 38 years in 1934. One of his famous publications includes the Psychology of Art released in 1925 (Boekle, Rittberger Wagner, 2011). Vygotsky argued that the development process of ever learner is complex and requires a systematic approach to age, gender, economic status and other contributory factors such as culture and communication with the external environment. Vygotsky provided students with manipulative materials as ways of tackling solvable problems. Vygotsky emphasized the learner to gain kn owledge through interaction with other students, teachers and sociocultural environment. He termed this approach instrumental in holistic capturing of available knowledge and enlarged the base for knowledge reception (Boekle, Rittberger Wagner, 2011).Jean PiagetPiaget was a Swiss constructivist theorist who majored in genetic epistemology, in young children and a great pioneer of constructivist theory of knowing (Jonassen Rohrer-Murphy, 1999). Piaget also contributed to the endogenous constructivism by emphasizing individual knowledge that is stimulated by internal cognitive conflict. The conflict is derived from dynamics of social exchange when the learner discovers an existing contradiction between his/her understanding and the existing experience. According to Fosnot Perry (1996), the best environment for internal conflicts arises is one that poses problems, raises questions and offers alternative perspectives in promoting exchange of ideas and peer collaboration. He argued th at child...

Odysseus the great Greek hero - Free Essay Example

Odysseus the great Greek hero. In homers epic The Odysseus he was the one who blinded the great Polythemus. The one who escaped the wrath of Poseidon through thinking on his feet and a little help from some other Gods such as Zeus Athena and many others. He did all this just to get home to his love. But then the question as old as Odysseus himself comes up. Do the ends justify the means? If I kill ten people just to see your wife does it make it ok? If sleeping with other people just to see your wife again make it ok? Does risking and getting tons of your friends and crew killed just to see your wife again make it ok? It may sound like an exaggeration but think about it he does all these things so he can get back to Ithaca to see his wife and son. So he can be king again. This all leads one to think that he may not be a hero. He is putting himself above his crew cheating on his wife and showing killing people unnecessarily. I am here to answer the question was Odysseus really a hero. So what makes a hero? In my opinion a hero is someone who puts others infront of him self for a greater good. Better put a hero is not always someone whom does something cool like blind a Cyclops but someone who puts others in front of himself to achieve something good. So someone like mother Teresa would be considered a hero. The highest award is the Medal of Honor given to someone who goes above and beyond what is required. You dont get a medal of honor for killing a ton of people you get a medal of honor for saving a ton of people or leading people through a minefield after having many opportunities to turn back. So you could say that a hero is a great leader. Was Odysseus a great leader? Think of how many people died because of his mistakes for example Odysseus gets curious and decides to bring some of his crew to explore an island. Then his crewmembers end up getting eaten because of it. The way they escape from Polythemus is by stabbing him in the eye and blinding him. To get out they all hide under sheep a go out as the sheep leave but Odysseus saves the biggest sheep for himself. We see this when Polythemus says (Old friend why are you last of all? You always take the lead. (Hinds 107) Then as they sailed away Odysseus decides to scream Cyclops! Your victims have escaped, and the gods have paid you back for your crimes.(Hinds 108) Then the Cyclops hurdles a giant rock at them and almost crushes them. Despite his crews pleas he taunts Cyclops again saying Cyclops if anyone asks who put out your eye, tell them it was Odysseus of Ithaca(Hinds 109). It is Manifestly clear that Odysseus risked and cost the lives of his crew because his curiosity to go explore the cave then it gets them killed later he takes the biggest safest sheep for himself and as if this is not bad enough he brags to the Cyclopes as they are sailing a way despite what his crew says. What is the purpose of Odysseuss whole trip home? So he can get back to his wife. So one would think that thats where his mind is when he is heading home right? Wrong. On his way home not only does he cheat on his wife with another woman one time but twice! When he is on the Island with Calypso, Zeus has decided to let him go and sends Hermes to tell her. But before Odysseus leaves he decides to cheat on his wife with Calypso. Before this happens he even says Neverless, It is my one wish, the never fading ache in my heart, to return to her and to my own house. (Hinds 52) Yet a page later it shows him making love to Calypso. This is not a one time thing but a trend starts to show when he does it again with Circe. On this occasion Circe turns his men into pigs then when Odysseus goes to save them he recives a magical plant that will allow him to not be effected by spell she puts into he soup. After he frees his men he goes and stays on Circes Island for another year. He says S o we stayed savoring all these pleasures, while elsewhere the seasons turned and a full year passed.