Pedagogic shift - in international virtual schools

Social Constructivism

Central to the definition of pedagogic shift is the concept of social constructivism. A central figure in the development of social constructivist learning theory, emerging out of the Age of Enlightenment was Lev Vygotsky (1896-1934). Amongst other things, he studied the cognitive development of children, highlighting the importance of both culture and social contexts in cognitive development. In summary, he suggested that rather than learning only taking place first and foremost internally, the process can begin externally between two or more individuals, before it is then internalized and then externalized in some form. In other words, learning is socially constructed.