EME2040 Reflection 3

It is believed that knowledge is gained through personal experiences; therefore, in most cases people are responsible for the knowledge they are acquired. The constructivist lesson plan has important elements that create individualized learning skills including real life situations that are share in the classroom so that students can analyze them and take initiative and come up with a solution. If a student had prior knowledge about what is being taught then once the new information is giving it makes much easier to understand and expended their ideas. It is best for student to collaborate when applying the constructivist lesson plan because it is believe that relationships are building among the students and social relationships are created which also help their understanding. Students are also placed in different groups where the teacher builds a connection between previous and future learning. The teacher asks several questions in order to understand the student’s level of understanding. The students are expressing their ideas that show what type of social relationship is being developing.

Constructivist lesson plans are important in order to build characteristic. It is imperative for the student to take information and apply it appropriately which shows the student level of understanding by sharing their ideas with the other student. A constructivist lesson plan was uniquely designed to provoke students to not only think for themselves but to also interact with those around them. This approach which some teachers use in the classroom has been through many changes and now focuses on six main elements. The situation, grouping, bridge, questions, exhibit and reflections are all the elements that take part in the constructivist approach. These elements are emphasized in a technique at which students actively engage themselves in situations that they must use their skills and ability to process information they have seen and heard properly. This strategy allows the student to form their own explanations concerning their own thoughts and opinions. The teacher not only provides direction for the student but students are encouraged to form their own views through their previous knowledge.

First, the teacher gives students the situation. The situation has to be given a title, a brief description about the problem solving, responses to questions, putting together metaphors, decision making, conclusions or setting goals. The teacher must also decide how the grouping will be formed with the student and materials. After the grouping takes place, the teacher then builds a bridge with the students’ previous knowledge and what the student will learn by expounding on the situation. After the bridge is established, it is then followed by a series of guiding questions which introduces the topic and help the student with constructing their explanation. Some examples of this include sentences the teacher may ask the student to form and compare structures or giving an explanation about the motive of a character in a story. The student will then make an exhibit of how others recorded and what their thoughts were during this process. Finally, the student writes a reflection based upon their thoughts on the entire experience. Depending on the subject the teacher is focusing on at that time would determine how each concept is presented. The positive factor about the constructivist lesson plan is that this approach can adapt to any subject area of teaching or curriculum.