Teachers Bridge to Constructivism (Coming Soon)
Experience Constructivism Firsthand
Learn how constructivist teaching differs from traditional hands-on instruction by experiencing both approaches yourself. Participants first assemble a pre-designed Leonardo bridge model, following directions to produce essentially the same result. They then take on a second bridge challenge with no prescribed design by creating, testing, revising, and assessing an original solution. The training can be completed individually or facilitated as a professional-development experience for groups of teachers.
Active vs. Generative
Hands-on learning is not necessarily constructivist. Following directions to assemble a Leonardo bridge is active learning. Designing an original bridge, testing ideas, solving problems, and revising the design requires learners to generate their own solutions and construct meaning through the process.
Assessment Rubrics
Assessment begins before construction. Participants establish their own goals and create a rubric for judging the finished bridge. Comparing different groups’ rubrics reveals how strongly assessment depends on the criteria chosen and helps teachers rethink the role of evaluation in a constructivist classroom.
Unique Outcomes
Constructivist activities are not designed to produce look-alike products. Each group brings its own experiences, priorities, and creative choices to the challenge, so the resulting bridges differ in both appearance and solution. Those differences make the learning visible.