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Constructivist theory is an educational philosophy that posits that learners construct their own understanding and knowledge of the world through experiencing things and reflecting on those experiences. This theory suggests that we learn by assimilating new experiences into our existing framework of knowledge and ideas, and when we encounter something new, we have to reconcile it with our previous ideas and experiences, sometimes changing what we believe, and sometimes discarding the new information as irrelevant.
According to constructivist theorists, learning is not a passive process where the learner simply absorbs information; rather, it is active, requiring the learner to engage with the content and to build their own understanding. It emphasizes the importance of the context in which an understanding is developed and acknowledges that the knowledge gained by learners is subjective, based on their individual experiences and interpretations.
The teacher's role in a constructivist classroom goes beyond providing information. Instead, teachers facilitate the learning process by providing guidance and tools to help learners actively construct their own knowledge, specialists in learning rather than content. They create environments where the students are encouraged to think for themselves and to engage in problem-solving that is both meaningful and relevant to them.
Jean Piaget and Lev Vygotsky are two of the main theorists who have contributed to Constructivist theory. Piaget's theory of cognitive development suggests that children move through different stages of learning which influence how they perceive and interact with the world, while Vygotsky's social constructivism emphasizes the cultural and social influences on a person's learning.
Extra: The constructivist theory has various applications in the educational settings. It is often reflected in tasks that involve active learning,