Background
Developed and proposed by a Russian psychologist known as Lev Semyonovich Vygotsky (1896-1934).
It is a type of cognitive constructivism focusing on the collaborative aspects of learning.
Vygotsky disputed with other constructivists and cognitivists, that learning can be separated from social settings, hence he rejected the proposed theories of Piaget and Perry.
Vygotsky believed that learning (cultural development) occurs interpsychologically and then intrapsychologically.
He saw language and culture as the fundamental pathways where human intellect and their perception of the world are developed.
His theory was later elaborated by many theorists and researchers.
Proponent
✔Lev Semyonovich Vygotsky was born on the 17th November 1896 in Orsha, Russia.
✔He studied at the Moscow State University (1917) and the Institute of Psychology in Moscow (1925) focusing on Physiology and the Development of Physiology.
✔Vygotsky died at age 37 on the 11th of June, 1934.
✔Vygotsky is best known for his work in the field of child development, the socio-cultural theory (zone of proximal development and scaffolding).
✔His work, mainly in education, is still being used worldwide by many teachers and professors.
Basic Tenets
✔Knowledge is built upon experience and interactions.
✔ The recognition of the factors of learning is an important part to shape the quality of learning.
✔ View learners as co-constructors of meaning and knowledge as the learning concept focus on primary concepts and not isolated facts.
Learning Activity
✔A recommended activity for the feature of Social Constructivism Theory is Whole Language.
✔The Whole Language Approach activity emphasis has the tendency to emphasize writing about what the learner already knows and can verbally explain.
Example: Story Writing and Student-made books
Reference
Baby. S. (2017). Social Constructivism. Slideshare. Online: https://www.slideshare.net/samsonbab043/social-constructivism-71311162 . (Accessed: March 4, 2021)
Basham. J. (Undated). Principles and practices of social constructivist teaching and learning. Online: https://slideplayer.com/slide/3917730/. (Accessed: March 4, 2021)
Cherry. K & Swaim. E. (2020). A Biography of Lev Vygotsky, One of the Most Influential Psychologists. verywell mind. Online: https://www.verywellmind.com/lev-vygotsky-biography-2795533 . (Accessed: March 4, 2021)
Constructivist Theories. Digital Image. Blendspace. Online: https://www.blendspace.com/lessons/Nv5uA9kQCVXl0w/learning-theories . (Accessed: March 4, 2021)
Davidson Films. (2010). Vygotsky's Developmental Theory: An Introduction. Online: https://youtu.be/InzmZtHuZPY. (Accessed: March 4, 2021).
Social Constructivism. (Undated). GSI Teaching & Resource Centre. Online: https://gsi.berkeley.edu/gsi-guide-contents/learning-theory-research/social-constructivism/ (Accessed: March 4, 2021)