Constructivism in Practice

As a science teacher, being able to generate and test hypotheses is not only a task for students given by teachers, but also a task for the teacher. For example, as a science teacher, my hypothesis can be the following:

If I allow my students to use a technological resource to present the differences and similarities of the processes of photosynthesis and cellular respiration, then they will have a better understanding of how both process benefit each other.

The technological resource used by students to present the information creates a direct correlation with the constructionism/constructivism theories and the mechanisms for learningn discussed by Dr. Michael Orey in his video short. Dr. Orey the theories are connected as a result of the mechanisms for learning, which are equilibration, assimilation, and accommodation. He elaborates by saying equilibration is one being able to balance the difference between what they believe and what is real and assimilation is the ability to make a connection with what one believes and what is real. Once equilibration and assimilation are reached, accommodations can be made in order to establish a new way of thinking about information based on personal believes and personal experiences (Laureate Education, Inc., 2011).

When referring to the assignment I will give my students, they may have experiences that only involve photosynthesis. Also, a few key terms come to my students’ minds, as a result of past learning experiences, when they hear photosynthesis, such as the sun and oxygen. My job, as the teacher, is to create a learning experience that not only creates a concrete understanding of photosynthesis, but also how it is connected to cellular respiration. Dr. Orey also mentions in the video that PowerPoint can be an effective project-based tool that students can use in order to present information for an assignment (Laureate Education, Inc., 2011). I also discover another technological resource that can be accessed via the Internet on a website called prezi.com. Prezi.com provides students a hyper-interactive way to give presentations as classroom assignments on any given subject. The website is very interactive and user-friendly, and quite frankly places PowerPoint on a remedial level when making a comparisons between the two. The website is also creates the opportunity for students to construct a concrete project that can be shared with others, therefore providing a better personal understanding of any given topic, such as photosynthesis and cellular respiration.

Resources:

Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2010). Constructionist and Constructivist Learning Theories [Video webcast]. Bridging Learning Theory, Instruction, and Technology. Retrieved from http://sylvan.live.ecollege.com/ec/crs/default.learn?CourseID=6072034&Survey=1&47=8554320&ClientNodeID=984650&coursenav=1&bhcp=1