Constructivist Learning

The notion of constructivist learning is based on Jean Piaget’s theory of constructivism. The core idea of this theory is that we should see learners, especially young children, as always actively trying to make sense of the world around them; we should see them as trying to build—or construct—their own understanding of the world.

The theory of constructivism is also closely associated with ideas about how best to teach and the best conditions for learning. The constructivist learning perspective is relevant to out-of-school learning because it encourages us to see people as always actively constructing an understanding of the world, whether they are in school or outside. This entry first looks at the origins of constructivist learning and how the perspective has since developed. It then ...