FTCE Professional Education Practice Exam

What learning approach allows students to construct meaning based on prior knowledge?

1. Extrinsic motivation

2. Constructivism

3. Achievement motivation

4. Behaviorism

The correct answer is: Constructivism

The focus on constructivism as the correct answer stems from its foundational principle: learners actively construct their own understanding and knowledge of the world, through experiencing things and reflecting on those experiences. This approach emphasizes that students use their prior knowledge as a basis for new learning, allowing them to make connections and build upon what they already know. In a constructivist classroom, learners engage in problem-solving and critical thinking, and they often participate in collaborative activities, which enrich their understanding through social interaction. This hands-on involvement encourages deeper comprehension as students integrate new information with their existing mental frameworks. In contrast, extrinsic motivation primarily deals with external rewards or pressures that drive behavior, rather than the internal process of understanding and meaning-making. Achievement motivation is focused on the desire to accomplish tasks and attain goals, which can be influences on student behavior but does not specifically indicate the process of constructing knowledge. Behaviorism centers on observable behaviors and the responses to stimuli in the environment, emphasizing reinforcement and punishment rather than individual meaning-making through prior knowledge. Thus, constructivism distinctly aligns with the idea of students building new meanings based on their previous experiences and knowledge, making it the correct choice among the provided options.