CTM 710 Instructional Tools and Multimedia
Lionel G Smith
My understanding of the terms Direct Instruction (Objectivism) and Constructivism
(Inquiry based learning) are as follows:
They both describe essentially the same thing.
The differences are as follows:
Definition from dictionary:
Objectivism
• noun 1 the tendency to emphasize what
is external to or independent of the mind. 2
Philosophy the belief that moral truths exist
independently of human knowledge or
perception of them.
From Oxford Dictionary
Direct instruction’s methods are based on
behavioural, cognitive behavioural and
information processing theories
It is based on the information-processing
branch’s behaviourist learning in the
cognitive learning theory.
Objectivism indicates that knowledge exists
on it’s own outside the human mind.
In objectivism it is believed that learning
happens when knowledge is transmitted to
people and they then store it in their minds.
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Definition from Wikipedia:
Constructivism
is a psychological theory of knowledge
(epistemology) [1] which argues that
humans generate knowledge and
meaning from their experiences.
From Wikipedia
Constructivism is based on cognitive,
developmental and discovery methods.
Constructivism is based on the cognitive
learning theory.
Constructivism says that humans
construct their knowledge in their minds
when participating in experiences.
Learning takes place when a human
constructs mechanisms for learning in
their own unique version of the

According to Wikipedia: “Direct Instruction
was originally developed in the 1960s by
Siegfried Engelmann and the late Wesley C.
Becker of the University of Oregon, and it
was the subject of an extensive federally-
funded research and implementation
program called Project Follow Through.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direct_Instructio
n Vygotsky, Piaget, Dewey, Vico, Rorty,
knowledge in their background,
experiences and abilities.
On the Internet I found that
Constructivism originated as follows:
“Constructivism as a paradigm or
worldview posits that learning is an
active, constructive process. The learner
is an information constructor. People
actively construct or create their own
subjective representations of objective
reality. New information is linked to to
prior knowledge, thus mental
representations are subjective.
Originators and important contributors:
Bruner”
http://www.learning-
theories.com/constructivism.html

Bibliography:
Roblyer, M.D. 2006. Integrating Educational Technology into Teaching pp. 36-37.
Internet:
Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direct_Instruction,
http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Foundations_of_Education_and_Instructional_Assessment/
Edition_1/Table_of_Contents/Chapter_10/10.2.1#Direct_Instruction,
Oxford Online dictionary, http://www.askoxford.com/
Learning Theories, http://www.learning-theories.com/constructivism.html