Anyone who has tried to learn to drive by first reading about it and then doing it can attest: our most powerful educational experiences comes from learning that is hands-on, interactive, and meaningful. Why is that?
Simply put, it’s all about constructivism: the power of doing.
We human beings constantly interact with our environment, building new meaning and drawing conclusions from the world around us. That human impulse—the impulse to transmute experience into knowledge—constitutes the heart of constructivism.
Instead of passively absorbing knowledge and information, constructivist learners actively engage. Their constructivist teachers no longer act as knowledge givers, but provide context and opportunities for students to build and construct their own understanding. In essence, constructivism switches “drivers ed” pamphlets for foot-on-pedal practice.
If you’re interested in learning more, check out the website I created with a small group of other ILT students about Constructivism!