Implications of Constructivist Approaches in the Classrooms: The Role of the Teachers

There is popular expectation at the level of society and educational policy makers that teachers’ must adopt different approaches in classrooms to prepare learners to meet the needs of 21st century. In this context, it is expected from the teachers to be aware of emerging approaches in learning and use them appropriately in classroom conditions. Constructivist approach of learning is one such emerging approach. Constructivist approaches are slightly different from the conventional approaches of teaching and learning. These approaches emphasize that the role of teacher must be changed from the ‘sage on stage’ to ‘guide from the side’. In fact, it is expected that a teacher equipped with constructivist approaches can encourage the learners to take active part in teaching learning process and foster their critical thinking, creativity and problem solving abilities. Extending these arguments, the present paper describes constructivism and associated pedagogical skills, enlists different constructivist approaches, and discusses the role of the teachers in implications of constructivist approaches in the classrooms.