Good teaching stimulates sound thinking. There are many angles to that gem stone however. Various "direct" and "indirect" teaching methods cab be used. There is no single magical key.
Unfortunately, the term "constructivism" adds nothing new. It is like reinventing the wheel. The same is true of the related term "learner-centered" education. Sadly, it may be used to justify near-bedlam in a classroom. After all, this is "modern," and of course anything "traditional" cannot work in 1996!
The above nonsense was encountered just the other day, when a student thought that eating and drinking in a classroom are essential to "self-esteem" and a "learner-centered" atmosphere. Since I enforce the house rules against turning carpeted classrooms into lunchrooms, I was told that my own behavior was "too traditional," especially since "now it is 1996." I told the student that I was well aware of the calendar showing 1996. However, I added that changes are not necessarily synonymous with improvements. Not surprisingly, the student claimed that her "style" is not really to listen to "lectures" and to "take notes."
In plainest English, the above was a form of student crap. The same student had boasted that she got "91" on the first test I gave. I doubt however if she is now boasting of her "68" on the second test. Perhaps she should concentrate more on "learning" than "politicking." The fact of the matter is that she has trouble with certain aspects of mathematics and associated teaching methods.
In brief, professional politicians are not the only politicians in the halls of ivy.