OUR CONSTRUCTIVIST EDUCATION & CLASS ATMOSPHERE

In constructivist classes the materials provided for students must be authentic and meaningful. The constructivist theory emphasizes critical thinking, questioning and entrepreneuring. Educational techniques are supporting active learning.

These activities require the use of the highest level of cognitive skills. Activities are carried out in collaborate, cooperative working atmospheres. The aim of collaboration and discussions is to share the existing knowledge through reflection method and to make the construction of new information easier. In other words to ease the construction phase of  theoretical diverseness.  Examples for these activies are :

• Preparing projects or inquiries
• Examining cases
• Providing situations for discussions
• Drama
• Simulation
• Role-playing
• Case studies

In order to apply the constructivist concept it is not  just enough to provide  the atmosphere but also to have the real democratic atmosphere in schools. The student and teacher must be working together affectively.

Classes where the constructivist program is applied;

1. Students are sitting in different ways;
2. Classes have no front or back seats;
3. Different activities are carried out in all corners of the class at the same time.
4. Students are active and continously interactive.
5. The teacher is the guide, who always walks around in order to help.
6. Students can talk altogether whenever  they are listened to;
7. There are just rules to regulate the flow of the lesson
8. Students can have opinion conflicts or can join serious discussions. This is accepted as the developing phase. 
9. Sharing can be seen spontaneoulsy  in classes.
10. The aim is to provide success  and to raise the learning capacity of students.
11. Students ask questions, discuss, generate ideas, give examples and ask for examples. Students recognize their weak points and make guesses. Students decide on their own learning styles themselves.
12. At the end of the lesson students establish cause and effect connections. Students examine and make connections  with their early learnings.
13. The class atmosphere should represent an example of the real world.

The Constructivist Teacher;

1. provides lots of materials in order to have gained information by students;
2. guides students while searching for information ; works with the student like a student;
3. learns together with students; the goals are set and achieved by students;
4. joins the class with researches and creative questions and decides together with students;
5. prepares scenarios and materials;
6. moves the education programme forward through flexible problems.