SO543 Constructivism in practice: learning, conflicts, community

Faculty of Education
Spring 2025
Extent and Intensity
0/2/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: z (credit).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Miroslav Filip, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Barbara Strobachová, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
Guaranteed by
Mgr. Barbara Strobachová, Ph.D.
Department of Social Education – Faculty of Education
Supplier department: Department of Social Education – Faculty of Education
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is offered to students of any study field.
The capacity limit for the course is 20 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/20, only registered: 0/20, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/20
Course objectives
Constructivism is an approach that can be applied in various areas through the development of several simple principles. The aim of this course is to adopt a constructivist approach and be able to apply it for personal development, pedagogical activities, understanding and mediating conflicts, or working with a group of clients or a community. In line with the course content, the course will be conducted using constructivist techaning methods; through a series of consecutive activities, students will have the opportunity to reach their own understanding of constructivist principles and critically evaluate its advantages and limitations. Active participation in individual and group activities and the acceptance of the fact that information will not usually be directly conveyed, but students will need to come to their own understanding of the topics are prerequisites for participating in the course. The course is delivered in a blended format, alternating between usually two in-person seminars and one distance learning activity.
Learning outcomes
Upon completing the course, the student will be able to: - Recognize patterns (constructs) according to which individuals or groups act in everyday life. - Identify and evaluate the functionality of personal constructs in their own life. - Design a pedagogical activity to effectively stimulate activity and independence. - Analyze personal or social conflicts and propose their mediation. - Reflect on situations where they find themselves in conflict or take a polarized stance. - Apply the Perceiver-Element-Grid method for mapping group processes.
Syllabus
  • 0. Content of the course, expectations and clarification of the constructivist teaching method. 1. Personal construct theory (G. A. Kelly): the notion of the "construct" and "construing," constructivist education, constructivist alternativism, personal cosntruct, construct systems, validation and invalidation of a construct system. 2. Reflection and self-experience - personal constructs in stories, fairy tales and dreams. 3. Constructivis education, scaffolding, zone of proximal development, intuitive pedagogy 4. Relational construct, Mascolo's constructivist approach to conflicts, steps in conflict mediation. 5. Constructivist view of group processes, sociality, Perceiver-Element-Grid.
Literature
  • Mascolo, M. F. (2022) Bridging partisan divides: Dialectical engagement and deep sociality. Journal of Constructivist Psychology, 35, 877-903. DOI: 10.1080/10720537.2020.1805065
  • Dalton, P., & Dunnett, G. (2005). A Psychology for Living: Personal Construct Theory for Professionals and Clients. 2nd ed. Whurr.
Teaching methods
blended learning, individual and group seminar activities, guided discussion, regular distant activities or homeworks
Assessment methods
Active participation in seminars, and submitting regular distance assignments are required to pass the course.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
The course is taught: every week.
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/ped/spring2025/SO543