There are countless dissertations citing the 1986 NSF proposal, Constructionism: A New Opportunity for Elementary Science Education, by MIT Professor Seymour Papert. For years, I have been on the hunt for the actual document. I even contacted my Congressman to get a copy since the project was funded by the National Science Foundation. Despite those efforts, the document remained the holy grail until this week when the great José Valente of the University of Campinas sent me a copy. (for which I am eternally grateful)Aside from including a bouquet of sentences in which Papert challenges conventional thinking in just a few words, we believe that this proposal for funding features the first written use of the term, constructionism. This proposal also sets the stage for the seminal Project Headlight work and the embryonic days of LEGO TC Logo, the first programmable robotics construction kit for learners.This gift will provide food for thought for many years to come.Links:
- Constructionism: A New Opportunity for Elementary Science Education (PDF scan of original)
- Constructionism: A New Opportunity for Elementary Science Education (Word doc)
- NSF Abstract #8751190
ABSTRACT
The word constructionism is a mnemonic for two aspects of the theory os science education underlying this project. From constructivist theories of psychology we take a view of learning as a reconstruction rather than as a transmission of knowledge. Then we extend the idea of manipulative materials to the idea that learning is most effective when part of an activity the learner experiences as constructing a meaningful product. Specifically a set of new materials will be developed for learning science in elementary schools. The materials use a new cut across science, organizing many traditional concepts under the heading of motion science, information science and color science. The materials will be designed to make better use of the level of computers presence that is now becoming common in schools. The design of the new materials pays special attention to the role of affective, cultural and gender-related facets of learning science. The materials will be developed in an inner city public school in Boston and evaluated in a number of test sites at associated schools in several states for dissemination to schools covering the full range of socio- cultural variation in American education.
Papert, S. (1986). Constructionism: A new opportunity for elementary science education. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Media Laboratory, Epistemology and Learning Group.