Theories of Teaching and Learning: A Comparison of Constructivism and Socio-Cultural Theory

Running Head: ESSAY 1
EDU10004 Theories of Teaching and Learning
Assignment 2
500 word Venn Diagram and 1500 word Essay
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Running Head: ESSAY 2
Theory 2: Socio-Cultural Theory
 Sociocultural theory is an evolving theory in the subject of psychology which often
aspects at the vital contributions which society creates for individual growth. The
theory focuses on the interaction amid growing people as well as the culture in
which they live in. besides, sociocultural theory suggests that a human learning is
majorly a social process than scientific one.
 In this context, according to Vygotsky learning own its basis while intermingling
with rest people. Later then this process, the info will be integrated on an individual
level.
 Sociocultural theory emphasizes how adults as well as peers impact individual
learning along with focusing on how cultural attitudes and beliefs influence as well
as how learning and instruction take place.
 Thus, children are born along with elementary biological constrictions on their
cognizance. The theory was invented in order to design a new method to find at as
well as come up with a resolution to social and educational issues of the recent time
(Schunk, 2012).
Similarities
 Both the theories Constructivism and Socio-cultural can be applied in the
social context.
 Both of the above theories contribute to teaching as well as learning.
 According to Socio-cultural and Constructivist theories a child gains
knowledge from playing at a pre-school.
 Both of the theory narrates that a child learns from the engagement since
his or her pre-schooling period.
 Socio-cultural and Constructivism theories are student focused theory as
in these theories learner is majorly important than the teacher. Thus,
trough self-experiences and mental activities a learner automatically
learns from the surroundings environment (Hodson, 2009).
Part 1: Venn diagram
5 Theory 1: Constructivism
 Constructivism is one of the famous theories of teaching and learning which
equates learning with generating meaning from the experiences.
Although constructivism is more often taken as a branch of Cognitivism yet it
differentiates itself from old-fashioned cognitive theories (Ertmer & Newby,
2013).
 Moreover, constructivism is a traditional approach to teaching as well as learning.
For example, same like other learning theories, this theory has multi roots in the
psychological and philosophical viewpoints of the century.
 However, during recent years constructivism has become a famous theory as it
begun to obtain enhanced attention in various different disciplines, including
teaching and learning.
 In this way, constructivism has a clear focus on inventing cognitive tools those
reflect the insight of the culture into which they have been used along with the
experiences of individuals. Moreover, as per the theory in order to be successful,
lasting and meaningful, learning should include 3 major crucial factors include
concept (knowledge), activity (practice) and culture (context).

Running Head: ESSAY 3
Part 2: Teaching and Learning
This essay is based on teaching as well as learning theories as we all know that learning is a
process which results in a moderately stable change in a person. Learning can also be taken as
dynamic process where the students’ skills and knowledge are different, while they get compared
prior and after learning. Moreover, teaching is the advertising mechanism of learning; hence our
knowledge about learning as well as the parallel theories through how we can learn should be
demonstrating from our teaching. Additionally, learning theories are those conceptual frameworks
that serve in order to explain how human learn (Schunk, 2012). By utilising teaching and learning
theories, understanding about how knowledge is established is developed. Furthermore, understanding
about knowledge enables teachers to form the methodological delivery of the subject contents for
matching the theoretical frameworks as well a supporting how knowledge is established. Moreover,
adopting the way students learn effectively can be utilised to nurture effective teaching practice,
which further enable teachers to enhance the productivity of their practice, hence ultimately improve
the quality of the learner’s experience (Teach Make a Difference, 2018).
Perspectives of learning in theory 1: Constructivism
The constructivist theory was invented by Piaget’s and Vygotsky, who saw learning being the
result of mental construction, where the learners united their prevailing knowledge with novel info, in
order to construct meaning. In this way, constructivist theory suggests that learning is a dynamic,
contextual procedure, a social activity, focused on constructing meaning as well as views of the
learner being a responsible agent (Schunk, 2012). Moreover, during constructivist learning, people
use world-base experiences being the ways to help them identify as well as establish understanding of
the surroundings. As constructivism theory enables learners for interacting with their instant learning
environment, the learning through this theory has been measured to be condition-specific as well as a
context-bound movement. Additionally, social constructivism focuses the role of language in the
progress of expressive understanding. In this context, Vygotsky claimed that dialogues could be
utilised for allowing individuals to contemplate, deliberate, reflect, contribute, impart and share
beliefs as well as understanding of the concepts.
In the context of critique of the theory 1, it has been suggested that this constructivist theory
might imply that memorizing is insignificant, as well as the constructivist model is entirely focused on
understanding notions. However, the theory proposes that being capable to memorize knowledge is an
important criterion of an effective learning. Additionally, many educational researchers have reported
that teaching approaches of constructivist theory do not steadily assure teaching effectiveness
(Schölkopf, 2015).