Which learning theory posits that learning is an active process and knowledge is constructed from personal experience?

Which learning theory posits that learning is an active process and knowledge is constructed from personal experience?

• A. Behaviorism
• B. Constructivism
• C. Socio-cultural theory
• D. Gestalt theory

Answer: (B)

Learning is an active process in which knowledge is constructed from personal experience. This view, associated with constructivism, says learners bring their own prior knowledge and beliefs to new situations and make meaning by testing ideas, manipulating materials, and reflecting on results. Through exploration and problem-solving, they adapt their mental models to fit new information, leading to understanding that grows from doing rather than just receiving facts. This contrasts with behaviorism, which sees learning as a change in observable behavior shaped by reinforcement; socio-cultural theory emphasizes learning through social interactions and cultural tools; and Gestalt theory focuses on how people perceive wholes and patterns. The essential point is that understanding emerges from active engagement and the learner’s own interpretive process.

Learning is an active process in which knowledge is constructed from personal experience. This view, associated with constructivism, says learners bring their own prior knowledge and beliefs to new situations and make meaning by testing ideas, manipulating materials, and reflecting on results. Through exploration and problem-solving, they adapt their mental models to fit new information, leading to understanding that grows from doing rather than just receiving facts. This contrasts with behaviorism, which sees learning as a change in observable behavior shaped by reinforcement; socio-cultural theory emphasizes learning through social interactions and cultural tools; and Gestalt theory focuses on how people perceive wholes and patterns. The essential point is that understanding emerges from active engagement and the learner’s own interpretive process.