constructivism

Definition

Teaching philosophy based on the concept that learning (cognition) is the result of 'mental construction' students constructs their own understanding by reflecting on their personal experiences, and by relating the new knowledge with what they already know. Each student creates his or her own 'schemas' or mental-models to make sense of the world, and accommodates the new knowledge (learns) by adjusting them. One of its main principles is that learning is search for meaning, therefore, to be effective, a teacher must help the student in discovering his or her own meaning. Although based on cognitive psychology research, its history goes back to the ancient Greece, the Socratic method.