10 learning regards knowledge as the result of multiple perspectives because it
respects the dynamic. In constructivist learning, teachers have willingness from the learners to take responsibility for their own learning, to be autonomous
thinkers, and to develop integrated comprehensions of abstraction Brooks Brooks, 1993. Brooks and Brooks 1993 state that constructivist learning is
pedagogy which is known as constructivist pedagogy. In this part, there are three points that are discussed. The first point is the elements of constructivist
pedagogy. The second point is the differences between constructivist learning and traditional learning. The last point is the beliefs of constructivist pedagogy.
a. The Elements of Constructivist Pedagogy
Suparno 1997 says that there are two influences of constructivist pedagogy. Constructivist pedagogy which is more personal is influenced by
Piaget meanwhile constructivist pedagogy which is more social is from Vygotsky.
1 Cognitive Constructivism
According to Zimmerman and Schunk 2001, cognitive part of human being is the underlying basis for human learning and recall. Cognitive functioning
assumes that students play an active personal role during the learning process. Cognitive constructivism is influenced by Piaget Zimmerman Schunk, 2001.
Piaget concerns with cognitive development and the formation of knowledge. According to Piaget as cited in Brooks and Brooks 1993, cognitive development
of people is the main factor in the process of constructing knowledge. Piaget states that the growth of knowledge is the result of individual construction made
by the students Brooks Brooks, 1993. Constructivism is viewed as a way of PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
11 explaining how students come to know about their world. Human mind is viewed
as dynamic sets of cognitive structures that help us to make sense of what we receive. A cognitive part of people grows in intellectual complexity as people get
mature and as people communicate with the world people come to know and as people gain experience Brooks Brooks, 1993. Cognitive constructivism sees
that students can improve their cognitive development through constructing their prior and new knowledge by themselves. Constructivist accounts emphasize the
value of personal skills in developing strategies to learn or perform a task, such as using elaborative questioning or note-taking to improve abilities of students. In
the learning process, a teacher can facilitate students to construct their comprehensions by providing materials. According to Suparno 1997, a learning
material is a medium to construct knowledge.
2 Social Constructivism
A self is constructed by the individual and by the surrounding social community Zimmerman Schunk, 2001. Thinking and learning are united in
social situations. Suparno 1997 says that Vygotsky influences constructivist pedagogy and see constructivism in a social perspective. Vygotsky offers his
theory that is ZPD to support constructivist pedagogy. ZPD or Zone of Proximal Development ZPD is defined as:
“...the distance between the actual development level as determined by independent problem solving and the higher level of potential development
as determined through problem solving under guidance and in
collaboration with more capable peers”. Vygotsky, 1978, p.86 as cited in McLeod, 2010
