Constructivism

I know that this post may not be politically correct, but it is what I am thinking at this moment, and what I am thinking in relation to the lesson I just finished on Constructivism.

I have been teaching 12/13 year-old Sunday School at church for two years.  My church put out a new curriculum and training materials for youth teachers within this time frame.  The focus is on teaching as the Savior taught, which tends to be a very constructivist way of teaching.  First of all, he knew and loved the people He taught.  He taught them in parables and stories - activating prior knowledge of tangible things on which spiritual knowledge and abstract concepts could be built.  He used effective questioning techniques.  He invited the people He taught to apply His teachings and find out for themselves whether or not the things He taught were true. 




I am asked, as a teacher, to apply this same model in my classroom.  My church students cannot gain a testimony of the truth of the lessons I teach by listening to me talk the entire time.  The way they gain a testimony is through using the scriptures, finding truth for themselves, and applying it to their lives and experiences.

This is what constructivism is all about!  I know in a public school setting, I cannot share my views of the Savior and my testimony of His divinity with them, but I can use the training and experience I am getting in my Sunday School calling to be a better teacher in public schools.  I have seen first hand the benefit of allowing students to discover knowledge for themselves.  I have been a facilitator.  I know it takes more work to be the facilitator than it does to read out of a manual or a textbook, but the results are SO worth the extra effort.  Not only do I see my students growing, but I grow, too, as I step outside of my comfort zone and put my trust in the students and their ability to learn and grow.

In case you are interested in peeking at the training materials from my church, go here for some great, short videos on teaching the Savior's way.  I have spent lots of time pondering how closely related my church and school learning is.