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I find it amazing that we have spent a considerable amount of time discussing the constructionist approach for learning for children in the classroom, but have said very little about how it applies to the teachers as well. The discussion that we had around using robotics in the classroom was a great example of this, and so was the debate that went with it. So many people understand how the teacher is part of the constructionist approach, but some people are still stuck with the idea that the teacher has to have all the answers. Really a teacher only needs to have enough answers or knowledge to make sure that the children in their classroom are not going to hurt themselves while doing the activity, everything they can learn along the way, just as the children are. I also found that we got too caught up on the concept of robotics to see the bigger picture. It’s not about building robots in your classroom, it’s about doing something new and something hands on, it’s about learning in a different way. Pick something the kids want to learn about (that is part of constructionism) and go with it, maybe as a teacher we feel safer when we know what we’re doing, but that does not do anything for the kids in the classroom. Besides once you’ve done it once, just think how well it will go for the next class that wants to do it. I think teachers (especially those in the field for a long time) have become so obsessed with control and order in the classroom that they lose site of the fact that children are individual, inquisitive, creative creatures, not just blank slates that need filled up. Think of anything that you know how to do really well. How did you learn it? Chances are it was hands on, and you screwed it up quite a few times before you got it right. Shouldn’t children get the chance to learn this way too?
