A Look at School Environments Traditional Classrooms Constructivist Classooms Curriculum is presented part to whole, with emphasis on basic skills. Curriculum is presented whole to part with emphasis on big concepts. Strict adherence to fixed curriculum is highly valued. Pursuit of student questions is highly valued. Curricular activities rely heavily on textbooks and workbooks.
Curricular activities rely heavily on primary sources f data and mamipulative materials.
Students are viewed as thinkers with emerging theories about the world. Teachers generally behave in a didactic manner, disseminating information to students. Teachers generally behave in an interactive manner, mediating the environment for students. Teachers seek the correct answer to validate student learning. Teachers seek the students' point of view in order to understand students' present conceptions for use in subsequent lessons.