Traditional classroom

Constructivist Classroom

Student primarily work alone.

Students primarily work in groups.

Curriculum is presented part to whole, with emphasis on basic skills.(bottom – up)

Curriculum is presented whole to part with emphasis on the big concept.(top – down)

Strict adherence to a fixed curriculum is highly valued.

Pursuit of student questions is highly valued.

Curricular activities rely heavily on textbooks of data and manipulative materials.

Curricular activities rely heavily on primary sources.

Students are viewed as “blank slates” onto which information is etched by the teacher.

Students are viewed as thinkers with emerging theories about the world.

Teachers generally behave in a didactic manner, disseminating information to students.

Teachers generally behave in an interactive manner mediating the environment for students.

Teachers seek the correct answers to validate student lessons.

Teachers seek the student’s point of view in order to understand student learning for use in subsequent conceptions.

Assessment of student learning is viewed as separate from teaching and occurs almost entirely through testing.

Assessment of student learning is interwoven with teaching and occurs through teacher observation of students at work and through exhibitions and protfolios.