Constructivism
I feel that constructivism in my classrooms will be extremely useful and even neccesary. In teaching physical education it is very important for students to participate in all classroom activities to get the complete concept of sport/s and physical activity. Especially in order to benefit the particpant. You can’t learn to effectively play a sport by memorizing the positions and the “job/s” of each player in that position. The rules may also be somewhat confusing and oblivious to the learner if he or she doesn’t understand the appropriate context in which to use them. The learner needs to be active and go kick a soccer ball, throw a football, shoot a basketball, hit a softball or baseball, pass a volleyball, etc. You just can’t expect someone to read about the correct way to perform an activity and then send them out to play and expect them to score points and understand how the game functions when all players and teams are there and competeing. It is so much more involved than that.
Also, in this theory students are frequently placed in groups or teams, this will create a bond and a trust amongst the students in my classroom or on a sports team. It will undoubtedly effect the way in which the students/learners interact and it will encourage them to learn from one another as well and not just the textbook or the teacher. By participating in the activities it will also teach the learner that although the information they are given from the book or teacher may say for example that a foul is this or that that fouls aren’t always seen or called even if you feel one may have been committed, and there really isn’t anything one can do or say to change that. Fairness can be explained and written in a text but doesn’t neccesarily mean it will be feasible on the court or field.
I also feel that classrooms where science and/or math is involved should be extremely hands on. A lot of the things you learn from these two subjects contain tons of information and memorization. It will simply be easier and less stressful for the learner and the teacher if experiments are done and participation and asking questions are frequent. To sit and listen in a passive state sends the information in one ear and out the other, there is little retention.
I feel this issue really should not be controversial because where it is being used it is helpful. If it isn’t being used then it definately isn’t doing any harm and very little harm can be done by experimenting with using it in your classroom. Nearly any subject can certainly be suited for this type of learning.
I think constructivism and technology integration are so closely interwoven because technology is something fairly new to many individuals and it is growing at an astounding rate. Soon, much of the world is going to function with technology which will require learning about in order to operate. But once we learn to operate then it will provide an amazing array of information for us to feed on. So you pay a little price to gain much more than you will ever need or use in a lifetime.
I feel that Constructivism is going to go a long way in our society and I back it up and support it fully.
