While many people talk about the Constructivist philosophy, there has not been a publication that provides a detailed description of what a Constructivist classroom sounds like and looks like. This book fills that void by examining the philosophy, translating it into teaching strategies, and providing over forty examples. These examples come from the elementary level up to and including the collegiate level, and include all content areas. These examples show how the Constructivist educator uses the linguistic mode, the visual mode, and the kinesthetic mode to create a class environment in which the Constructivist philosophy flourishes. Examples of student work are provided; the book also includes chapters on note-taking, Problem-Based Learning (PBL), action research, and other Constructivist resources.
Written in user-friendly form, this book presents a concrete and step by step approach for translating the Constructivist philosophy into classroom practice. This book is intended for every Constructivist researcher, practitioner, and teacher-educator. The researcher and teacher-educator will benefit from topics such as the history of Constructivist thought, the principles of Constructivism and action research. This book is more than a list of recipes, and this will be beneficial to the practitioner. Starting with the principles of Constructivism, and bridging to four basic teaching strategies, the practitioner is guided on how to use different learning modes and “meta-strategies” to create a true Constructivist practice.
An educator’s life is made up of one’s philosophy, teaching principles, daily strategies, resources, and research tools. This book provides an in-depth look, from the Constructivist perspective, at each one of these components. In every sense of the word, this book is truly “comprehensive.”
Table of Contents:
Acknowledgements
Chapter 1. Getting a Head Start on our Constructivist Practice
Chapter 2. An Introduction to Constructivist Teaching
Chapter 3. Principles of Constructivisim
Chapter 4. Translating Principles Into Strategies
Chapter 5. Creating a Constructivist Environment through the Linguistic Mode and Cooperative Learning
Chapter 6. The Linguistic Mode and Authentic Writing
Chapter 7. Creating a Constructivist Environment through Visual Literacy
Chapter 8. Visual Literacy: Why It Works
Chapter 9. Macrostrategies for Creating a Constructivist Environment
Chapter 10. Creating a Constructivist Environment by Using Kinesthetic Activities, Manipulatives, and Drama
Chapter 11. A Metastrategy for Note Taking
Chapter 12. Delivering Constructivism through Problem-Based Learning
Chapter 13. Metacognition, Reflection, and Constructivism
Chapter 14. The Entire Process
Chapter 15. Professional Resources for the Constructivist Teacher
References
