Papert would say that it is imperative that students learn via hands on activities. These are the activities and lessons that used to be strictly based on strategies that were supposed to be "delivered" to students. Today, with so many different technologies available, there are many ways that student can receive the information in that invite a constructionists' point of view. Sadly, Piaget cannot see the fruits of his constructionist labors, however students today are able to take advantage of what Papert calls "help[ing] children experience knowledge and construct meanings" (Lever-Duffy & McDonald, 2008, p. 19) via technology. Students are drenched in a technological splash-water falls, which enables them to adhere to current curricula and stay on the cutting edge of educational technology and stay within the parameters of "constructivism".
Educational specialists, such as Dr. Michael Orey, would say that students benefit when teachers allow them [students] to learn through personal construction of knowledge, and not simply addition of knowledge. Orey explained that students need to work until they reach "disequilibrium", and once this stage is reached they must either assimilate or accommodate for the new knowledge. Students cannot simply retain knowledge, but must be allowed to process it and create something with it. If a student can show mastery of a subject through the engaged creation of something (Orey, 2008)they can grow educationally.
Lever-Duffy, J. & McDonald, J. (2008). Theoretical Foundations (Laureate Education, Inc., custom ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.
Orey, M.(Ed.). (2008). Emerging perspectives on learning, teaching, and technology. Retrieved from http://projects.coe.uga.edu/epltt/
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I thought Dr. Orey's discussion of the "disequilibrium" as being very interesting as well. I had not previously considered that there was such a need for students to create something with their knowledge in order to retain the learning. We hear much about having students organize information but much less about students constructing with the information they gain in other ways. Good discussion points
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