What is a Constructivist Lesson Plan?

A Constructivist Lesson Plan does just that, it constructs or in some cases reconstructs knowledge in the learner’s mind. This type of lesson plan is based on constructivism. In constructivism, the learning process is seen as much more than just a passive experience. It takes an active participation on the learner’s behalf. Constructivism believes that all learners bring with them prior knowledge and experience to every learning situation. Through this previous exposure the learner can then integrate new information and experiences to construct their own unique knowledge. Like building a house, first and foremost a foundation must be created in order to have a clear and stable understanding of the material. From there the student can construct (or reconstruct) and make stronger their own understanding through the guidance of a teacher. Another principle in a constructivist framework is that learning occurs internally, whether it is being controlled or mediated. In a Constructivist Lesson Plan the student isn’t sitting in the classroom absorbing “useful” information, instead the teacher makes it a point to let the student interact with the material, and gives the student a chance to create their own insights on the subject matter. This usually either reaffirms what they know or gives them a firsthand look at what they don’t. Unfortunately, these changes occur internally (as stated before). In constructivism the importance is placed on the processes by which a child creates and develops their views of the world around them. A Constructivist Lesson Plan is student based because of this. However, all students construct their knowledge in different ways and the teacher must be prepared to handle these differences with an arsenal of resources, tools, and experiences at their fingertips. Teachers must design activities where the student will stay engaged in the lesson and still understand the content being taught. One sure fire way to do this is to bring real-world problems into the classroom. By doing this the student is actively involved in solving problems that pose a relevance to their lives. They might gather and analyze information to make informed decisions pertaining to real life situations. This brings certain topics close to home and shows the student a more concrete connection to their education and the world they live in. In this setting the student is encouraged to take initiative. The teacher is only there to transmit the information being taught in the manner most suitable for the learner’s understanding, and encourages them to discover basic principles on their own.