Didactic Versus Constructivist Learning

For my learning and teaching, I must say I prefer constructivist learning and teaching. It allows students to get involved to a greater extent and gives them a greater choice in, and control of, their learning. Having the students work in teams, pick different ways to solve problems, and utilize various forms of media and IT is a beneficial and interactive approach to education that is more engaging and rewarding than the straightforward lecture approach of direct instruction. However, there are times when some lecture is necessary, such as a subject like math where steps, formulas, etc., need to be explained in detail before students will be able to work on their own. And even with most constructivist learning projects, it’s a good idea to have a mini-lecture beforehand just to explain the purpose of the project so the students know what to do, what’s expected of them, and so on.

It’s best to find a good mix between the two. Too many constructivist activities and students may lose focus, not have enough guidance, et cetera; too much of a didactic approach and students might become bored and disinterested. A good balance of the two, which keeps students centered, interested, and motivated, is what all teachers should strive to employ in their classrooms.

Chapter Two, “An Overview of IT-Assisted PBL,”  further explains the benefits of constructivist learning in that it increases opportunities for students to use IT applications. Instead of just answering questions on worksheets, students use software to create projects; in doing so, they able to be creative and further sharpen their computer skills. CH2 also proposes that a lot of instruction is not necessary on how to use the software, either, as students (and teachers) tend to learn through doing. I would definitely agree with that. Certainly problem based learning and constructivist activities are better for learning IT and software applications because they are much more hands-on. I also really like what Ch2 says about how the teacher should be more of a guide than a sage and how the teacher is also a learner, too, in constructivist instruction. For me as a teacher that style is very appealing in many ways, mostly because it makes me as a teacher feel like I’m part of the class instead of the one in charge of it. To me, constructivist learning is the way to go because it is much more involving and motivating, not just for students, but for teachers too.