Constructivism in the Classroom

Professional Development Workshop

English Language Learners (ELL) for K-5 Educators

Recorder: Jeff Kitts Coordinator: Tawn Gillihan Elaborator: Corey Wallace Explorer: Nuong Nguyen

Team 6
Overview
Defining Constructivism

Benefits of Constructivism in the classroom

Costs/Challenges for the teachers and students

What we should be doing to implement the Constructivist model

What is Constructivism?
Constructivism is a theory of learning based on
the idea that knowledge is constructed as we
make meaning out of our experiences with the
world. We know the world as we create it in
our minds. Social learning is considered to be
primary and development secondary.

According to L.S. Vygotsky, Every function in

the childs cultural development appears twice:
first, on the social level, and later, on the
individual level. (1930)
Theoretical Foundations
Constructivism is a theory, or philosophy, that
suggests new knowledge is never created.

Humans hang new knowledge on a

framework of previously learned information
and create connections between other known
information.

Think of it as an ever growing web of

interconnected information in a persons
brain.
Benefits of Constructivism
Real Life Scenarios
Constructivist techniques teach the whole child and lead to more realistic
representations of expertise.

An example with ELL students is designing applicable real life scenarios where
improvisation, collaboration, and feedback is required. The scenario is not only
designed for the specific needs of the students, but also designed with the
students. These scenarios reach and motivate students to learn in an authentic,
lasting way.
Benefits of Constructivism
Real Life Scenarios

Social skills leading to social integration: Students, in a guided

environment, exercise inventiveness, improvisation, and social
negotiation, which leads to new skills and facilitated integration.

Relevance: Simulated scenarios or using field trips for real world

experiences fosters authentic learning leading to transfer of the
learned skills for the student to apply in connected experiences.
Constructivism Essentials
Real Life Scenarios

Problem based learning: A problem

is presented to students and they
collaborate together to work out a
solution.

Anchored instruction: Anchoring

instruction around a realistic
situation or problem that needs to be
solved or addressed.
What are the Challenges?

Everyone perceives the world and learning situations differently, the learning
outcomes will be different as the learners have different frameworks from which
the knowledge will be contextualized.
When the teacher doesnt speak the native language of the learners, assessing
the students knowledge can be difficult. In designing constructivist scenarios,
different sub-themes within the scenario may need to be emphasized or
de-emphasized as the students formative knowledge becomes apparent.
Scenarios require guided adaptation to best fit student student needs.
What are the Challenges?

The transition to a constructivist classroom can get messy as

teachers and learners learn and apply new activities and routines.
Designing a flipped classroom for ELL students can be
challenging--in terms of the mix of auditory simplicity and visual
modeling.
Internet-based ELL resources are improving to help teachers curate
a flipped classroom libraries for their needs (see uen.org in
References).
What we should be doing.
Project-Based Learning
Give students projects that require them to conduct their own inquiries and
cooperate to generate new knowledge. What could that look like for a new ELL
student?

Have new students create a School Staff Directory. This will allow them to
practice new vocabulary What is your name? and introducing themselves
as well as help them integrate into their new school community.

Other Project Ideas: Restaurant menu to learn food vocabulary, map of

community to learn city vocabulary, going to the market to use math in the real
world
Real-World & Virtual Field Trips
Get your learners out in the real
world. Let them learn by exploring.

Museums are often free for public

schools.

Worried about management and

transportation?

Try a virtual field trip like this one.

Understanding KWL Charts

Before starting a lesson, use an inquiry chart with your students

What they Know

What they Want to know, and

What they Learned

Additional Best Practices

TPR activities

Bridging Scaffold

Using cognates whenever possible

Bilingual dictionaries

Discuss new material in native language when possible

References
Cummins, J. (1998). Immersion education for the millennium: What we have learned from 30 years of research on
second language immersion. Retrieved from
http://carla.umn.edu/cobaltt/modules/strategies/CUMMINS/CUMMINS.PDF

Ertmer, P. A., & Newby, T.J. (1993). Behaviorism, cognitivism, constructivism: Comparing critical features from an
instructional design perspective. Performance Improvement Quarterly, 6(4), 5072. Retrieval from
http://northweststate.edu/wp-content/uploads/files/21143_ftp.pdf

Gardner, B. (2013). KWL chart [Class handout]. Pleasant Grove, UT. Retrieved September 25, 2016 from
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/KWL-Chart-595724

Reiser, R. A., & Dempsey, J. V. (2012). Trends and issues in instructional design and technology (3rd Edition). Boston,
MA: Pearson.
Utah Education Network. (2016). English language learner resources. Retrieved from
http://www.uen.org/k12educator/ell/

Vygotsky, L. S. (1978). Mind in society: The development of higher psychological processes. Cambridge, MA.: Harvard
University Press. Retrieved from http://www.cles.mlc.edu.tw/~cerntcu/099-curriculum/Edu_Psy/EP_03_New.pdf
Image Credits
English Language Learners [Digital image]. (n.d.). Retrieved September 25, 2016, from
http://www.azed.gov/english-language-learners/

Four ELL Students [Digital image]. (n.d.). Retrieved September 25, 2016, from
http://www.bremertonschools.org/Page/3110

L.S. Vygotsky [Digital image]. (n.d.). Retrieved September 26, 2016, from
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/7e/Lev_Vygotsky.jpg

Mind [Digital image]. (n.d.). Retrieved September 25, 2016, from

http://www.jltp.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/shutterstock_128976941-web.jpg

Teacher, globe, and ELL [Digital image]. Retrieved on September 25, 2016 from
http://www.minnetonka.k12.mn.us/services/Pages/ELL.aspx

Wallace, C. (2016). Students on bus [Digital image]. Retrieved September 26, 2016.