Applying Constructivist Theory to Practice in a Technology-Based Learning Environment

This paper describes a research study where constructivism was used as the rationale for the design, implementation and evaluation of four technology-based investigations for Year 12 Applicable Mathematics students. Analysis is given of the successes and difficulties encountered by students and teachers of four classes, including my own, in which the investigations were implemented. The results showed that, for learning activities involVing school assessment, many students chose not to work collaboratively- a strategy suggested by social constructivism. The extent to which this may have been detrimental to their learning is discussed. The study illustrates how engaging in research can be a means for teachers to understand theory. In particular, the paper describes the meaning made of constructivism through this example of teaching practice and research activity. There is perceived to be a gap between practice and research in mathematics education. The gap was very real to me when, as a secondary school mathematics teacher undertaking postgraduate study, I was confronted with literature suggesting that didactic methods (which were predominant in my practice) are ineffective compared to constructivist approaches. This paper reports a research project through which I partly crossed the research-practice gap and reconceptualised how learning occurs. It portrays research that started as an inquiry into technology-based learning in one of my own classes, and which evolved to include constructivism as a rationale for the teaching method. I discuss the meaning I made of constructivism through the teaching and research activities. My purpose in writing the paper is to provide an example of the practical orientation described as needed for research to be relevant to practice, that is, "the idea of actually viewing the classroom as teachers view it " (Kennedy, 1997, p. 7). Much literature recommends constructivism as a framework for mathematic