Constructivism

Overview

Constructivism holds that learners actively construct knowledge through experience and social interaction rather than passively receiving it. Rooted in Piaget (cognitive constructivism) and Vygotsky (social constructivism), it emphasizes that learning is situated, social, and built on prior knowledge.

When to Use

Trigger conditions:

• Designing instruction that emphasizes active learning and knowledge construction
• Applying scaffolding or ZPD principles to learning design
• Evaluating whether a learning environment supports constructivist principles

When NOT to use:

• When learners need to memorize factual information quickly (direct instruction may be more efficient)
• When assessing cognitive load management in instructional design (use cognitive load theory)
• When classifying learning objectives by complexity (use Bloom's taxonomy)

Assumptions