Modern pedagogical approaches

7. Examples of good practice

Examples of the constructivist approach in teaching:

• Study of medicine: problem-based learning (PBL). A small team of students is given a description of a patient and, by activating prior knowledge, formulates what they know and what they need to investigate. This is followed by independent and team study of sources, creation of a concept map and discussion with guided questioning. It ends with a short reflection on how the new knowledge was constructed and how to apply it in a clinical decision.
• Study of computer science: project-based learning (PjBL). Students design and develop an IoT (Internet of Things) prototype for a real user. They iteratively test the solution, keep a learning journal, plan work on the kanban board and regularly do peer evaluation. Knowledge is created through design, trial and error, and public product demonstration.
• Study of humanities and social sciences: social annotation and inquiry. In a digital environment, students jointly record and comment on primary sources (e.g. text, map, artefact), compare perspectives and jointly define success criteria. From these notes, they develop interpretations and mini-case studies, which they then present and revise according to feedback. The emphasis is on joint construction of meaning and metacognition.