Constructivist versus Traditional Approaches to Teaching

*Teacher driven lessons vs student driven learning

*Successful transmission of content vs the students active construction of his understanding

*Teacher provides instruction based on fixed curriculum vs teacher facilities the learning experience that emerges out of student interest and questions

*Learning is driven by attaining basic skills vs learning is driven by inquiry and students solving problems

*Lectures, worksheets, textbooks vs primary sources, hands on materials and interactive

*Students generally work alone and the objectives are clearly stated driven by the test and the skills are taught sequentially vs emphasis on group work with an emphasis on collaborative work. Students participate in meaningful activities that motivate the pursuit of knowledge which enable the ultimate construction of knowledge

*Answers are done by test which are right or wrong vs. alternative methods of learning and assessment that are based on student observations, group project work and personal reflections