constructivism

[kənˈstrʌktɪvɪzəm]
noun
construtivismo
1. An educational philosophy that emphasizes learners actively constructing their own understanding and knowledge through experience and reflection rather than passively receiving information.
The teacher adopted constructivism in her classroom by having students solve problems through hands-on activities.
A professora adotou o construtivismo em sua sala de aula, tendo os alunos resolvido problemas através de atividades práticas.
2. An artistic and architectural movement originating in early 20th century Russia that emphasizes functionality, geometric forms, and industrial materials.
Russian constructivism revolutionized graphic design with bold typography and dynamic compositions.
O construtivismo russo revolucionou o design gráfico com tipografia ousada e composições dinâmicas.
3. In philosophy and mathematics, the approach that mathematical objects exist only as mental constructions rather than as abstract entities independent of human thought.
Mathematical constructivism rejects the existence of infinite sets that cannot be explicitly constructed.
O construtivismo matemático rejeita a existência de conjuntos infinitos que não podem ser explicitamente construídos.
In Brazil, constructivism gained significant prominence in educational policy during the 1990s-2000s as part of pedagogical reforms. It influenced curriculum design and teacher training programs. In the USA, constructivism emerged from work by Piaget and Vygotsky and became foundational to modern educational psychology. The artistic movement is studied equally in both cultures as an important avant-garde historical movement.
Synonyms / Sinônimos
student-centered learningactive learningexperiential learningconstructionist theory
Antonyms / Antônimos
instructivismpassive learningtransmission model of educationbehaviorism

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
construtivismo
Standard term used in educational and artistic contexts throughout Brazil
São Paulo
construtivismo
Widely used in academic and educational discourse; common in university settings
Rio de Janeiro
construtivismo
Used in educational reform discussions and art history contexts
Portugal
construtivismo
Same term used; particularly in philosophy and educational psychology contexts

Related Words

constructivistconstructpedagogyepistemologyscaffold learningsocial constructivism

Related Idioms & Phrases

hands-on learning approach
student-centered classroom
building knowledge from experience
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