Although much of the educational software created in the 1970s and 1980s was based on behavioral principles, much of the new multimedia educational software is based on constructivist theories. Technology provides essential tools with which to accomplish the goals of a constructivist classroom. In this section, you will explore several types of cognitive constructivist learning environments. Sometimes you will read only a description of an instructional approach, but you will also have an opportunity to explore some of the software that supports constructivist learning environments. As opposed to the social constructivist perspective that describes the mind as a distributed entity that extends beyond the bounds of the body into the social environment, cognitive constructivists describe the mind in terms of the individual, restricting it's domain to the individual's head.
Cognitive constructivism approaches learning and knowing from the perspective of the individual.
A basic premise to educational reform starts with the view of studying student learning and understanding. The authors of this web page offer a constructivist view that focuses on the learning environment of the students. They consider the activities and approaches between teacher and student interaction. The authors discuss the importance of constructivism, principles of constructivism, and creating constructivist settings. Why We Talk About Learning Environments Clearly associated with the constructivist movement, learning environments call to mind a number of images yet to be explored.