Teaching yourself rather than being taught?
In the commentary on Constructivism Vs. Instructionism by Papert, it is stated that: ‘teaching is important, but learning is much more important’. Papert goes on to define constructionism as: ‘giving children good things to do so that they can learn by doing much better than they could before’. It is believed in this commentary and I agree with it, that technology is very rich in providing students with things to do. By giving students the opportunity to do and learn, the knowledge gained will be better retained and usable as it becomes a part of the way they do things. Papert also states: ‘that this is what we’re trying to do, find ways in which the technology enables children to use knowledge, not just store it in their heads so that twelve years later it’s going to be good for them. Nobody can learn well like that; it’s a terrible way of learning’. Therefore by giving students they opportunity to construct their own learning enables students to use this knowledge daily rather than saving it for a rainy day.
