New Hampshire: Reform\

June 1, 2009 - 08:17 am
NEWS FEED: GraniteGrok

The problems with constructivism in school

Parents are probably hearing how schools are committed to a "student-centered" approach to teaching.  But what does that mean?  In Constructivism it means that your child will be participating in "discovery learning." 
 
In this setting the students work in groups or with other students, and the teacher takes on the role of "facilitator" rather than "instructor."  The goal is to get the students to come up with their own solution to the math problems (although this approach is used in other subjects too); and if the students have problems, they would turn to another student before asking the teacher.
 
This is exactly what is going on in many of the New Hampshire classrooms.