1. a philosophical or educational theory that emphasizes the active role of learners in constructing their own understanding and knowledge through experience and interaction.
Usage: commonly used in education and cognitive psychology; often contrasted with passive learning models
2. in art and architecture, a movement or approach that emphasizes the structural and functional aspects of design, often rejecting ornament in favor of honest expression of materials and construction methods.
Usage: primarily used in art history and architectural criticism; associated with early 20th-century avant-garde movements

Examples

• The teacher's approach to constructionism encouraged students to learn by doing rather than listening to lectures.
• Constructionism in education suggests that learners build knowledge through hands-on projects and problem-solving.
• The architect's constructionism rejected unnecessary decoration and celebrated the beauty of exposed steel and concrete.
• Piaget's work influenced modern constructionism by showing how children actively construct understanding.
• The museum's exhibition explored constructionism in 20th-century design and its impact on modern aesthetics.
• Constructionism emphasizes that knowledge is not passively received but actively created by the learner.