The Construction Zone site is designed to inform, to illuminate and to raise discussion about constructivism in education.

Constructionism

Constructionist learning theory has evolved from constructivist theories of learning that, as mentioned, recognize that learning is an active process in which learners construct mental models and theories of the world in which they live.  Read more...

Zone of Proximal Development

The Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) (or construction zone, Cole et al.) may be defined as the zone in which we can accomplish a task with the assistance, or accompaniment, of a more knowledgeable other - a task that we could not handle alone. The student should ideally be engaged at the outside limit of competence.  Read more...

Mindfulness or Intentional Learning

Intentional Learning (IL) is a frame of mind which thrives in a classroom culture focused on students taking charge of their own learning. Many agree that the cultural surround affects learning. “In the Vygotskian approach to instruction, changes in the whole interactional system, not just in the student, are thus considered in the analysis of cognitive change.”  Read more...

Expert Learners

Intentional learners are learning to become expert at becoming expert. That is to say, not only are they learning declarative, subject matter and procedural functionality, they are acquiring valuable metacognitive knowledge as well.  Experts across domains demonstrate consistent general problem solving strategies. Some of these include:  Read more...