Constructivist or activity-based learning

An activity-based approach to learning means the children learn by ‘doing’… by working through simulated elements from the online world. This approach gives children experience of real online situations, of making decisions and experimenting with choices and consequences. Here below is the ‘what, how and why’ of constructivist or activity-based learning, plus links to theorists-educators, Harold Bloom, Howard Gardner, Grant Wiggins & Jay McTighe.

What?
Discovery-based learning
Critical thinking
Knowledge > comprehension > application > analysis > synthesis > evaluation

How?
Simulations, role-play, game-play, time-based challenges, and quizzes
High-level interactivity: prompts, feedback and rewards
Learn by ‘doing’: experiment with choices and consequences
Diversity of engagement trigger points

Why?
Empowers the educator because …
Flexibility of teaching and learning
Higher order thinking skills > genuine understanding

References
1. Bloom’s Taxonomy (of Educational Objectives): the cognitive domain
2. Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences
3. Understanding by Design (aka ‘backward design’ and ‘teaching for understanding’) of Wiggins and McTighe