Constructivism
and Vygotsky´s Theory
By Bálmer Antonio García
Definitions
Language is a system of communication acquired unconsciously since birth and used under a complex system of arbitrary signs in order to communicate ideas, thoughts, and feelings among individuals of a same language. This human ability relies on social and cultural contexts which evolve in time.
Learning is a process by which living beings are adapted to the surrounding environment and cause a change in its behavior and is stored in their memory as an experience which can bring back again when similar situations are presented. Only in these cases we can say that learning occurs.
Teaching is assisting in the process of learning ¨which is social and interactional¨ and is a method that make use of the Zone of Proximal development which lead learners to learning. Teaching may also be a transfer of our knowledge.
Restating the theory
Constructivism like an approach understands learning as a process where students learn from the past and current knowledge, analyzing, interpreting, and reflecting on the new information which let them to generate or construct a new knowledge. This means that students construct new ideas based upon previous knowledge and not repeating facts. Vygotsky was more interested in mental processes than in a psychology of action because he wanted to discover how persons acquire verbal meanings and how social interaction can contributes in the learning process. Knowers depend on the relativity of situations in which they find themselves. As an example of Vygotsky’s theory in action, new methodology draws attention on collaborative groups where every member contributes to consolidate the group work from his/her social environment and previous knowledge meditating on the new information, and thus enriching everybody´s ideas.
Learning is a process by which living beings are adapted to the surrounding environment and cause a change in its behavior and is stored in their memory as an experience which can bring back again when similar situations are presented. Only in these cases we can say that learning occurs.
Teaching is assisting in the process of learning ¨which is social and interactional¨ and is a method that make use of the Zone of Proximal development which lead learners to learning. Teaching may also be a transfer of our knowledge.
Restating the theory
Constructivism like an approach understands learning as a process where students learn from the past and current knowledge, analyzing, interpreting, and reflecting on the new information which let them to generate or construct a new knowledge. This means that students construct new ideas based upon previous knowledge and not repeating facts. Vygotsky was more interested in mental processes than in a psychology of action because he wanted to discover how persons acquire verbal meanings and how social interaction can contributes in the learning process. Knowers depend on the relativity of situations in which they find themselves. As an example of Vygotsky’s theory in action, new methodology draws attention on collaborative groups where every member contributes to consolidate the group work from his/her social environment and previous knowledge meditating on the new information, and thus enriching everybody´s ideas.
Bibliography
Chomsky, N.
(1986). Knowledge of Language. New York: Praeger Publishers.
Dalton, S. S.
(2008). Five standars for effective teaching: How to suceed with all
learners. San Francisco: Josey-Bass.
Hudmon, A.
(2006). Learning and memory. Yale: Chelsea House Books.
Bloomfield,
L. (1935). Language. New Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass.
Redondo, F. P. (2010). Introducción a la licenciatura
en Inglés como Lengua Extranjera. Bogotá D.C.: UNAD.
Tulande, J.
(2015). First & second language acquisition and learning. Popayán:
UNAD.
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