This is a blog for Dr. Reins' elementary mathematics methods course.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Constructivism
What is constructivism? Constructivism to me is creating meaning from my own knowledge or viewpoint. Taking what I learn from my environment and making sense of it. I also feel constructivism could be part of a learning theory or theories, but I am not sure what theory it would fit.
After hearing a few class discussions on constructivism my view has not changed, but I do have a better understanding of constructivism. I would add to my previous post that constructivism is a learning theory. It is how students come to know or learn something.
This blogspot for ELED 330 K-8 Math Methods serves three main purposes, (1) it is a method of assessment for the instructor to keep track of your reflective thinking in the course, (2) it provides formative assessment data which help change the course, for example, feedback on the pace, explanations, depth and breadth might change the instructor's course of action in the tentative course schedule and provide opportunities for "Just in time teaching", and (3) it creates a learning environment where you feel like you can connect and make sense of the pedagogical and mathematical ideas in this course with your peers. Understandings can be arrived at as a collective rather than an individual effort.
Students enrolled in ELED 330 K-8 Math Methods are allowed to post and comment in this blog. I would like you, as a cohort, to use this space as a learning board in which you seek knowledge from your peers in the course about things in this course and help other's come to the understandings that you have. This blog has been created as a learning environment for both the instructor and the participants in this course.
We are going to start this course with geometry topics, which K-8 mathematics geometry topics would you most like a content refresher and a deeper delve into current and best-practice teaching methods?
After hearing a few class discussions on constructivism my view has not changed, but I do have a better understanding of constructivism. I would add to my previous post that constructivism is a learning theory. It is how students come to know or learn something.
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