Assignment 2: Research Caf Proposal

How the readings were selected (keywords, databases employed, inclusion criteria,
exclusion criteria)

While searching for the article, I used the university (Academic Search Premier, Google
Scholar) databases.

I used the following keywords:

constructivism for adult learners

applications of constructivism for adults
constructivism for mobile learning
constructivism for higher education
interactive learning
constructivism and authentic assessments
constructivist approach to online discussions

Inclusion criteria

Articles should investigate well a teaching strategy discipline that employs

constructivist principles
Primary journal articles
Included studies must be experimental
Articles must have been published in the last 10 years

Exclusion criteria

Articles were published more than 10 years ago

Articles do not investigate well a teaching strategy discipline that employs
constructivist principles

3 citations in APA with a rank order of my favorites and preliminary ideas for the type of
e-learning activity and discussion

Option 1. Lbler, H. (2006). Learning entrepreneurship from a constructivist

perspective. Technology Analysis & Strategic Management, 18(1), 19-38.
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09537320500520460

Why it was selected: As an instructional designer of various masters programs,

including entrepreneurship courses, I am interested in learning how constructivist theory
can support entrepreneurship education, where students-entrepreneurs try everything
and are ready to learn what is needed to be successful. The paper discusses learning as
discovering and developing ones behaviour as well as discovering and developing ones
own concepts. I found the principles for designing entrepreneurship courses useful and
applicable.
Discussion Question and Activity (combined; the same for articles 1 and 2):

1. Choose one idea/approach from the article that you could apply to your work as an
educator. Explain how you would do that to support student learning. Describe both the
approach and your implementation of that approach.

To answer the question, choose from the options below:

create a short 1-2 min podcast (you can use your smart phone for audio
recording or Audacity )
record a short 1-2 min video (you can use your smart phone for video recording,
video camera, or tools like Screencast-O-Matic, iMovie, Camtasia, etc. )
create an infographic
use a tool of your choice to answer this question

Respond to one of your classmates using RISE Model for Peer Feedback:
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/502c5d7e24aca01df4766eb3/t/582ca64415d5db4
70077cce7/1479321157165/RISE_info-peer.pdf

Option 2. Lai, K. W. (2015). Knowledge construction in online learning communities: a

case study of a doctoral course. Studies in Higher Education, 40(4), 561-579.
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/03075079.2013.831402

Why it was selected: I consult faculty on best practices for designing online
discussions. The paper presents a study investigating co-construction of knowledge by
doctoral students in an online learning community. I am interested in implementing some
of the socio-cultural and social constructivist approaches that were adopted during this
experiment into the courses I design. In addition, the paper discusses factors affecting
knowledge construction, such as teaching strategies, the amount of direct instruction
necessary, the way the discussions are moderated, which I find valuable for my
professional development.

Discussion Question and Activity (combined; the same for articles 1 and 2):

1. Choose one idea/approach from the article that you could apply to your work as an
educator. Explain how you would do that to support student learning. Describe both the
approach and your implementation of that approach.

To answer the question, choose one of the options below:

create a short 1-2 min podcast (you can use your smart phone for audio
recording or Audacity )
record a short 1-2 min video (you can use your smart phone for video recording,
video camera, or tools like Screencast-O-Matic, iMovie, Camtasia, etc. )
create an infographic
use a tool of your choice to answer this question

Respond to one of your classmates using RISE Model for Peer Feedback:
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/502c5d7e24aca01df4766eb3/t/582ca6441
5d5db470077cce7/1479321157165/RISE_info-peer.pdf
Option 3. Dhindsa, H. S., & Anderson, O. R. (2011). Constructivist-visual mind map
teaching approach and the quality of students cognitive structures. Journal of Science
Education and Technology, 20(2), 186-200.
http://www.jstor.org/stable/41499389?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents

Why it was selected: This paper presents mind mapping techniques and constructivist
approaches to science learning (13-15 year-old students). The mind mapping techniques
emphasize the active involvement of the learner who uses existing knowledge structures
to construct new knowledge by inter-relating new content with existing knowledge in
memory. As I do not use mind-mapping activities in my instructional design practices,
and I would like to learn more and give it a try.

Discussion Question and Activity (combined)

Answer one of the questions below:

1. What do you think about using mind mapping techniques for adult learners? Describe
how you would implement it.
2. Choose one idea/approach from the article that you could apply to your work as an
educator.
3. Summarize your best learning from the article.

If you have chosen questions 1 or 2, choose one of the options below for your response:
create a short 1-2 min podcast (you can use your smart phone for audio
recording or Audacity )
record a short 1-2 min video (for video recording, you can use your smart phone,
iPad, video camera, or tools like Screencast-O-Matic, iMovie, Camtasia, etc. )
create an infographic
use a tool of your choice to answer this question

If you have chosen question 3, create a mind map illustrating your learning.

Respond to one of your classmates using RISE Model for Peer Feedback:
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/502c5d7e24aca01df4766eb3/t/582ca64415d5db4
70077cce7/1479321157165/RISE_info-peer.pdf

One paragraph preamble about how these articles may be of interest

These articles may be of interest to those who would like to apply constructivist theory in
online environment. They will be useful for educators, who are designing learning for
adult learners or teaching them. They will also equip us with techniques on how to use
existing knowledge structures to construct new knowledge by inter-relating new content
with existing knowledge.