© 2001, N. Finkelstein Context in the Context of Physics and Learning

This paper re-centers the discussion of student learning to focus on context. A theoretically-grounded understanding of context and the relation of context to student learning are developed. This work argues for a contextual constructivist model of student learning, in order to support efforts in creating and analyzing environments that support student learning in physics. To date, the discussion of student learning in physics has been largely student and content centered.[1] The common goal of many of these efforts is the creation of systems of activitie