Using Principles of Constructivism to Promote Reflective Judgment: A Model Lesson

Authors

  • Geoffrey Scheurman University of Wisconsin - River Falls Author

Abstract

This paper begins with a review of key psychological principles derived from contemporary theories of learning (constructivism) and highlights conceptual connections between these principles and aspects of critical thinking and epistemological maturity described by theories of adult intellectual development (Reflective Judgment Model). Next, the author builds a bridge between these theories and specific instructional approaches by describing a lesson from an undergraduate course in educational psychology. The lesson is designed with principles of constructivism in mind and evaluated using criteria associated with reflective judgment. The paper concludes by considering other domains into which the lesson might be incorporated and by raising several concerns that need to be addressed as teachers explore the relationship between contemporary theories of learning and proposed methods of college teaching.

Published

2024-03-22