In the constructivist classroom, the teacher serves as a guide for the students in their learning journey. The constructivist theory of pedagogy places the student's active experiences at the center of the teaching event, focusing on knowledge construction instead of knowledge reproduction. Constructivist education highlights the use of real-world contexts and activities to facilitate the students' education.
Constructivist education bases its curriculum on the belief that children learn best if presented with the larger picture, which the teacher then breaks down into parts rather than starting with the parts of the whole presented incrementally. Constructivist teachers must remain flexible in their lesson planning, as the interests of the students drive the learning process. Curricular activities rely on primary sources and students' direct experiences. New knowledge is not presented in isolation, as it builds on previous learning and understanding.
In the constructivist classroom, the teacher acts as a facilitator of knowledge acquisition. Interacting extensively with the students, the teacher provides a supportive environment for the children to develop process, attitudes and skills. The teacher actively encourages the students, who work primarily in groups, to ask questions and contextualize their own learning experiences. Constructivist teachers encourage and teach to all learning styles, attempting to improve the students' learning experience by developing an understanding of how each individual student learns. The teacher's responsibilities to evaluate students' performances are interwoven throughout the entire teaching process.
Computer technology in the classroom supports the aims of constructivist pedagogy. Working on a computer encourages small-group work and provides direct access to primary sources for the children to research. The multimedia formats of many websites, such as video, audio and interactivity, work well with different learning styles, integrating verbal and visual thinking. Students can work at their own pace, and teachers can coach individuals rather than lecture to the whole class.