Our instructional development class has just been introduced to the concept of constructivism. Most of us in the discussion group are getting our first exposure to the constructivist approach. (Obviously our ID program subscribes to the more traditional approach, objectivism). We were attempting to conduct our discussion group from a constructivist point of view. In fact, we tried to collaborate and construct meaning and direction out of our discussion. Several questions came up during the discussion that could not be answered by anyone in the group. I am hoping that someone with expertise in constructivism can respond to these questions/scenarios so that I may read your responses to the class next week.
How is learning handled in a public school setting using a constructivist approach?
Our class finished an instructional design project earlier in the semester using a traditional objectivist approach. Our group wants to know how a constructivist would have handled the same project. This project consisted of the following:
Scenario: Your consulting company has just been hired by Horner-Rausch (Horner-Rausch is a one hour optical shop in a local shopping mall). They need a performance package to distribute to their store managers that will enable them to train newly hired technicians in lens making. You will need to prepare a design that meets the needs of this customer. Your package will be presented by an instructor from Horner-Rausch to the store managers. The focus on the package is not what the Horner-Rausch instructor will do, but rather what the store manager will take away to use for guidance and training of new technicians. Assume a four week maximum time to bring the technicians up to basic skill levels.
Our class then proceeded down to the local Horner-Rausch optical store. We video-taped the store manager going through the entire lens making process from receiving the prescription sheet from the doctor, grinding the lens to the proper prescription to mounting the formed lens in the appropriate frame. We did a procedures analysis, formulated performance objectives, and developed a training package that contained a leader's guide for the instructor, some self instruction materials for the technician trainee, as well as some job aids for high memory load tasks.
We would like your (members of ITForum) perspective on how a constructivist would accomplish this.