Discusses the interaction between children's minds and the learning environment, offering a conceptual framework that aims at creating authentic contexts where the quality and variety of mediated learning experiences will enable children to build a deep understanding within the domain studied. (MDM)

Argues the good and the bad aspects of constructivism as revealed through the literature, and describes the framework of the three different dimensions constructivist writers fall into. The author also discusses the degree to which each dimension harbors various sociopolitical versus educational concerns. (GR)

Comments on Erick Smith's proposed knowing/knowledge distinction, and clarifies a possible ambiguity in the present author's use of the term "constructivism." The article distinguishes between Piagetian-based psychological constructivism as outlined by Smith and the author's version of constructivism. (GR)

Comments on Erick Smith's article that states the authors do not use a consistent meaning for the term "knowledge" when discussing learning theory. The authors use the Vygotskian account of the movement from the interpsychological to the intrapsychological plane through the process of internalization and reinvention to explain their…

Draws on interviews with 40 women as well as radical education and feminist analysis to urge adult educators to challenge the authoritative knowledge called science in order to open it to more democratic ways of knowledge making. (SK)

Explores possibilities for establishing dialogues between feminism and constructivism in the field of technology studies. Based on an overview of Norwegian feminist debates about technology, it indicates several points where feminism and constructivism meet and can mutually benefit from each other. (56 references) (Author/MKR)

Three Australian studies identified attributes of workplaces as learning environments: authentic activities, experts, other workers, and task engagement. Limitations of workplace learning included inappropriate knowledge, lack of access to activities, expert reluctance, absence of expertise, opaque knowledge, and problems with instructional media.…

Used a constructivist teaching/learning approach to improve first year preservice primary teachers' confidence in, and attitude to, teaching science. Benefits reported were ownership of knowledge, development of pedagogic skills, and the use of group work to develop ideas. Concerns raised included uncertainty when exploring knowledge for…

Describes an instructor's experience using the constructivist approach to teach college science (ZWH)

Discusses formalizing in mathematics and provides anecdotal illustrations of formalizing in a constructivist environment, using students aged 12 and 8 involved in fraction work. (Contains 19 references.) (MKR)

Summarizes the implications of constructivism for instructional systems design in five principles that integrate the affective and cognitive domains of learning. Distinguishing characteristics of the two approaches are described based on a review of recent literature, and examples are offered that discuss learner controlled computer-based…

This paper discusses arguments for the social nature of knowledge construction, the balancing influence of individual knowledge construction, conceptualization of the relative roles of individual and social dynamics in children's learning, important principles of effective instruction, and implications for designing educational programs for…

Discusses theoretical constructs defining intertextuality as a social construction. Presents a microanalysis of a first-grade reading lesson based on recent work applying interactional sociolinguistics to classrooms. Shows how teachers and students may use intertextuality to (1) define themselves and others; (2) form social groups; and (3)…

Describes a covariational, rather than correspondence, approach to functions that emphasizes rate of change. Proposes three ways of understanding rate of change in relation to exponential functions. (Contains 41 references.) (Author/MKR)

A constructionist theory is described that accounts for the knowledge-based inferences that are constructed when readers comprehend narrative text. Distinctive assumptions of the constructionist theory embrace a principle of search (or effort) after meaning. Literature in support of the theory is reviewed. (SLD)