ERIC Number: EJ840103
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2009-Jun
Pages: 10
Abstractor: As Provided
Reference Count: 17
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0013-1857
The Poverty of Constructivism
Meyer, Derek Louis
Educational Philosophy and Theory, v41 n3 p332-341 Jun 2009
Constructivism claims to be a postepistemology that replaces "traditional" concepts of knowledge. Supporters of constructivism have argued that progress requires that pre-service teachers be weaned off traditional approaches and that they should adopt constructivist views of knowledge. Constructivism appears to be gaining ground rapidly and should no longer be viewed as an exercise in radical thinking primarily aimed at generating innovative teaching. It has become an integral part of the pedagogic mainstream. Close examination of the theoretical foundations of constructivism, however, reveals that the basic assumptions of constructivism are flawed. Far from being a postepistemology, constructivism simply regresses to a pre-Renaissance mindset with theology replaced with a psychologism. Constructivists should be aware that the implications of constructivism for future generations may be both profound and non-benign.
Descriptors: Constructivism (Learning), Educational Attitudes, Teaching Methods, Preservice Teachers, Educational Philosophy, Teacher Education, Instructional Innovation, Educational Theories
Blackwell Publishing. 350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148. Tel: 800-835-6770; Tel: 781-388-8599; Fax: 781-388-8232; e-mail: customerservices@blackwellpublishing.com; Web site: http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/jnl_default.asp
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers: N/A

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