Constructivism: In The Brain, In The Classroom – Education & Teacher Conferences Skip to main content

Constructivism: In The Brain, In The Classroom

In this helpfully provocative post, Mike Hobbiss argues that we often misapply the theory of constructivism.

For Hobbiss, the theory makes perfect sense when describing learning. However, he  worries that constructivism is unlikely to be helpful as a theory of pedagogy.

As he argues, drawing on extensive neuroscientific research, we can help students construct their own understandings by creating multiple, partial, and overlapping mental schema.

That kind of “constructivism as learning” might not be best fostered by “constructivism as teaching.”

Hobbiss offers this potentially controversial argument in measured and thoughtful tones. Even if you disagree with him — perhaps especially if you disagree with him — his ideas merit a careful read.


Recent Blogs

I Take It All Back: Research on “Expressive Writing” Has Evolved
Andrew Watson
Andrew Watson

I spend my days giving research-informed advice to teachers and...

The Creativity Choice: The Science of Making Decisions to Turn Ideas into Action by Zorana Ivcevic Pringle
Erik Jahner, PhD
Erik Jahner, PhD

It happened just this morning! I was watching my favorite...

Improving Schools with Research: Understanding the Gaps
Andrew Watson
Andrew Watson

Those of us who study the intersection of research and...