scholarly journals Social constructivism in the field of education and learning

2011 ◽  
Vol 43 (2) ◽  
pp. 177-194
Author(s):  
Jovana Milutinovic
Keyword(s):  
Social Constructivism ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
School Context ◽  
Deep Understanding ◽  
Educational Practice ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Educational Values ◽  
The Social ◽  
Constructivist Perspective ◽  
Context Of Learning

Social constructivism is, first and foremost, the theory of knowledge focused on the role of social processes in knowledge creation. Its proponents are interested in interactions among people which are observed as the ways through which shared versions of knowledge are constructed. Starting from the widely acknowledged need for learning with deep understanding and increased interest in the social context of learning, the paper theoretically analyses social constructivism and its influence on educational practice. The goal is to critically re-examine the social constructivist perspective as a theory of teaching and learning and point out to its educational values based on certain conclusions mentioned in the literature. The paper also explores and highlights the basic starting points of social constructivism as well as its different interpretations. In addition, the paper studies relevant issues for education and learning suitable for applying social constructivism, both at the institutional and interpersonal level. It is concluded that social constructivism, applied in practice as a culture rather than as a set of isolated activities, is highly significant for understanding the complexity of the phenomenon of teaching and learning in school context, as well as for providing concrete guiding ideas (learning through cooperation, discovering and solving problems, joint exploration of knowledge and world reinterpretation) for enhancing educational theory and practice.

Unconscious ties that bind – attending to complexes in the classroom: part 1

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 181-194
Author(s):  
Alexandra L. Fidyk
Keyword(s):  
Teacher Preparation ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Collective Unconscious ◽  
Cultural Layer ◽  
The Unconscious ◽  
Interpersonal Dynamics ◽  
Vital Importance ◽  
The Social ◽  
Political Turn

ABSTRACTRecognized by few in theory and practice, unconscious dynamics affect all aspects of education, including teaching and learning, as well as assessment, coding, and teacher preparation. Jung proposed that the collective unconscious is akin to a very deep psychosocial well from which individuals, families, and cultures across time and place draw in order to organize and make meaning of life. If we accept this claim, then the ways we understand and attend to interpersonal dynamics within the classroom radically change. Here, in two conjoining parts, a case is made for the vital importance of acknowledging and working with the unconscious, particularly the cultural layer (Part 1) and the familial layer (Part 2) of the psyche. Attention in Part 1 is given to the social and political turn in Jungian psychology and its importance to the dramatically changing ethnocultural character of Canada’s classrooms (likewise with many countries today). The cultural unconscious, cultural complexes, scapegoating, and the critical intersection between groups and individuals are examined in relation to education.

A Profitable Education

2020 ◽  
pp. 359-381
Author(s):  
Rohit Mehta ◽  
Edwin Creely ◽  
Danah Henriksen
Keyword(s):  
21St Century ◽  
21St Century Skills ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Educational Practice ◽  
Educational Systems ◽  
Critical Approach ◽  
Political Influences ◽  
The Core ◽  
The Social

In this chapter, the authors take a multifaceted critical approach to understanding and deconstructing the term 21st century skills, especially in regard to technology and the role of corporations in the discourses about education. They also consider a range of cultural and political influences in our exploration of the social and academic meanings of the term, including its history and politics. The application of the term in present-day educational contexts is considered as well as possible futures implied through the term. The goal in this chapter is to counter ideas that might diminish a humanized educational practice. Specifically, the authors offer a critique of neoliberal discourses in education, particularly the neoliberal and corporate narrative around 21st century teaching and learning. They raise concerns about what an undue emphasis on industry-oriented educational systems can mean for the core purposes of education.

language teaching

2007 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. i-i ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Language Teaching ◽  
Educational Practice ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Learning And Teaching ◽  
Replication Research ◽  
Timely Response ◽  
New Research ◽  
Teaching Learning

Phil Benson's state-of-the-art review of autonomy in L2 learning and teaching is a timely response to an ever-growing interest in autonomous language learning. Focusing his attention on the recent literature, he explores how this interest in autonomy is influencing theory and practice, leading to the emergence of new research agendas in the field. He focuses particularly on the ways in which conceptions of autonomy have evolved and continue to change, and how these new conceptions fit in with broader developments in language teaching and learning theory, educational practice, and social thought.This issue includes also a call for papers on Replication Research Studies, two features marking the publication of this fortieth volume of the journal, and reports on a series of research seminars.Richard Johnstone's article in which he reviews research published in 2004 and 2005 on language teaching, learning and policy is available online at <http://journals.cambridge.org/jidLTA&volumeId=39&issueId=04>.

scholarly journals The Role of Cloud Computing for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning in Saudi Arabian Universities in Accordance with the Social Constructivism Theory: A Specialist’s Point of View

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (13) ◽  
pp. 70
Author(s):  
Farhan Yetaim Alenezi
Keyword(s):  
Cloud Computing ◽  
Social Constructivism ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Saudi Arabian ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Learning Enhancement ◽  
The Social ◽  
E Learning ◽  
Academic Year

This study aims to evaluate the role of Cloud Computing in enhancing teaching and learning in Saudi Arabian government universities in the backdrop of the four principles of Social Constructivism Theory - social interaction, previous experience, activity of a learner, and the development of mental skills; all these have to be examined form the specialist’s point of view as he will be responsible for integrating technology into the processes for supporting the whole ecosystem. The study was conducted at 29 Saudi Arabian government universities, using a quantitative approach based on a Questionnaire. The study sample consisted of 84 Deans and Vice Deans of E-learning across all Saudi government universities, in the Academic Year 2016/2017. The results revealed a significant role for Cloud Computing for teaching and learning enhancement in the Saudi Arabian universities in accordance with the construct outlined above.

The Affective Turn in Educational Theory

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michalinos Zembylas
Keyword(s):  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Educational Theory ◽  
The Body ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Emotional States ◽  
Affect Studies ◽  
The Social ◽  
Political Theories ◽  
Teachers And Students ◽  
Historically Situated

The “affective turn” in the humanities and social sciences has developed some of the most innovative and productive theoretical ideas in recent years, bringing together psychoanalytically informed theories of subjectivity and subjection, theories of the body and embodiment, and political theories and critical analysis. Although there are clearly different approaches in the affective turn that range from psychoanalysis, poststructuralism, (post-)Deleuzian perspectives, theories of the body, and embodiment to affective politics, there is a substantial turn to the intersections of the social, cultural, and political with the psychic and the unconscious. The affective turn, then, marks a shift in thought in critical theory through an exploration of the complex interrelations of discursive practices, the human body, social and cultural forces, and individually experienced but historically situated affects and emotions. Work in this area has become known as “critical emotion studies” or “critical affect studies.” Just as in other disciplinary areas, there has been a huge surge of interest in education concerning the study of affect and emotion. Affect and emotion have appeared and reappeared in educational theory and practice over the past several decades through a variety of theoretical lenses. For psychologists working with theories of cognition, for example, the meaning of these terms is very different compared to that of a sociologist or philosopher using social or political theories of power. In general, psychologists investigate emotional states and their impact on the body and mind/cognition, whereas “affect” is a much broader term denoting modes of influence, movement, intensity, and change. Within these two meanings—a more psychologized notion focused on the “emotions” as these are usually understood and a more wider perspective on “affect” highlighting difference, process, and force—the affective turn in education expands our thinking and research by attempting to enrich our understanding of how teachers and students are moved, what inspires or pains them, how feelings and memories play into teaching and learning. The affective turn, then, is a particular and particularly focused set of ideas well worth considering, especially because it enables power critiques of various kinds. What the affective turn contributes to education and other disciplines is that it draws attention to the entanglement of affects and emotions with everyday life in new ways. More importantly, the affective turn creates important ethical, political, and pedagogical openings in educators’ efforts to make transformative interventions in educational spaces.

scholarly journals Humanistic Elements in the Educational Practice at a United States Sub-Baccalaureate Technical College

2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 117-145 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peng Chen ◽  
Carsten Schmidtke
Keyword(s):  
Technical College ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Educational Practice ◽  
Team Work ◽  
Professional Development For Teachers ◽  
Self Study ◽  
Cognitive Apprenticeships ◽  
Context Of Learning ◽  
Certification Requirements ◽  
Industry Needs

Humanism has never been able to establish a firm place in technical education, which remains predominantly pragmatist in response to industry needs, certification requirements and educational standardisation. However, after a period of decline, humanism has made somewhat of a comeback as part of the movement toward student-centred education. Research conducted at a technical college showed that although . This research indicated that including humanistic elements in educational practice will enable instructors to be more effective in helping students to develop skills in relation to team work, problem-solving, systems improvement, lifelong learning and other areas that are becoming increasingly necessary for success in the workplace. The include a constructivist approach with a focus on contextual teaching and learning using situated cognition, cognitive apprenticeships, anchored instruction and authentic assessment. At the same time, some suggestions for improving professional development for teachers by using a Gestalt approach along with self-study in the context of learning communities have been discussed.  

Integrating the C3 Framework in the social studies: an action research study

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Meghan McGlinn Man ◽  
Jeffrey A. Greiner
Keyword(s):  
Action Research ◽  
Social Studies ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Research Study ◽  
Classroom Teacher ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Social ◽  
Teachers And Students ◽  
Action Research Study

PurposeThe C3 Framework is a recent example in a long history within the field of social studies education of efforts to engage teachers and students in inquiry-oriented teaching and learning. While there is some research regarding the efficacy of the inquiry design model (IDM) of the C3 Framework, few studies have sought to engage social studies teachers as coresearchers as they integrate the framework. This study addressed a persistent divide between the theory and practice of integrating inquiry in the social studies.Design/methodology/approachIn this study, a classroom teacher and a university-based researcher conducted a hybrid action research study to understand the instructional shifts that occur as the C3 Framework is fully implemented into instruction.FindingsBased on the findings, the authors present a theory of action to highlight key opportunities to shift instruction, while also acknowledging the factors that might mitigate those shifts. In particular, the authors focus on teacher decision-making and contextual factors that allow for and hinder the full integration of inquiry.Originality/valueThis study is unique in developing a hybrid action research/qualitative case study that provides insider knowledge related to improving social studies teaching and learning.

scholarly journals Teaching and Learning Vocabulary through Reading as a Social Practice in Saudi Universities

2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 67
Author(s):  
Sultan Altalhab
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Values ◽  
Learning Strategies ◽  
Social Practice ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Vocabulary Learning ◽  
Teaching Techniques ◽  
Systematic Analysis ◽  
The Social ◽  
Teachers And Students ◽  
Context Of Learning

<p>The study explores the social practice of vocabulary learning by examining vocabulary teaching techniques employed by teachers, the vocabulary learning strategies (VLSs) identified by students as most useful and the ones they felt most competent in using when reading and teachers’ and students’ attitudes towards learning vocabulary through reading. While most vocabulary research is quantitative, this study used a mixed methods approach of quantitative and qualitative data collected from a range of sources. One hundred and fifty students majoring in English from four different universities completed a semi-structured questionnaire and twenty-two of them were interviewed. In addition, nine teachers of vocabulary and reading subjects were interviewed and their classes observed. A systematic analysis for the prescribed textbooks was also conducted. The findings revealed that both teachers and students were negotiating their autonomy on an ongoing basis, which means that the social context of learning has a powerful influence on what students learn. The study concludes that vocabulary learning is a social practice influenced by a range of factors, such as teaching techniques, VLSs, the prescribed textbook, participants’ beliefs and attitudes, learners’ interests, cultural values and learners’ level of competence in English.</p>

scholarly journals Closing the Circle

2009 ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Luisa Pérez Cavana
Keyword(s):  
John Dewey ◽  
Educational Practice ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Learning Theories ◽  
Social Software ◽  
The Social ◽  
Radical Constructivist ◽  
Learning Platforms ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Constructivist Position

Taking into account the complexity and multiplicity of constructivist theories, the first part of this chapter focuses on the relationship between epistemology and pedagogy in constructivism, in particular in the radical constructivist position of von Glasersfeld, which is considered a significant referent in constructivism. To overcome some of the shortcomings of radical constructivism, the author have then explored the origins of constructivist theory and practice in the work of John Dewey, whose ideas could be still a source of inspiration for constructivist educational practice. The second part of this chapter analyses the social constructivist development in different internet-based learning platforms and social software and considers at the end some practical difficulties and benefits of online learning for the implementation of constructivist learning theories for learners as teachers.

scholarly journals Teaching at Holocaust memorial sites: Swedish teachers’ understanding of the educational values of visiting Holocaust memorial sites

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-57
Author(s):  
Ola Flennegård ◽  
Christer Mattsson
Keyword(s):  
Critical Discourse Analysis ◽  
Personal Growth ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Social Dynamics ◽  
Educational Values ◽  
Holocaust Memorial ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Holocaust ◽  
Memorial Sites ◽  
Subject Making

The present article focuses on teaching and learning about the Holocaust in Sweden, conducted as study trips to Holocaust memorial sites. Although about a quarter of Swedish teenagers visit the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum each year, this study is the first to examine these Swedish study trips. Since there are no centralised systems for arranging these study trips, this study regards dedicated teachers as the main stakeholders. By deploying critical discourse analysis of transcripts of nine in-depth interviews with teachers, the study terms the discursive order of the teachers’ talk about the study trips ritual democratic catharsis. The teachers’ two main purposes are the use of the study trips as a vehicle for the social dynamics in the group to evolve in order to promote personal growth among the students, and the students’ learning about democracy and human rights. Their overarching didactic strategy of focusing on the suffering of the victims is meant to evoke empathy among the students, but lacks an explanatory aim. The study critically points out the teachers’ unreflected relationship to historiographic Holocaust content as a subject, making their teaching vulnerable to contemporary political influences, jeopardising the democratic purpose of these trips.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document