Reflection 2: What is the difference between the Behaviorist Lesson Plan format and the Constructivist Lesson Plan format?

How do I begin? That is, in essence, what plans are for. Plans offer a way to begin and follow through with an action so that it may be completed successfully. Plans are vital for performing tasks, and without them, we would be lost.

Different goals take different routes to be achieved. The method of achieving success depends heavily on the goal in mind, but also on the individual undertaking the effort. The Behaviorist Lesson Plan offers an opportunity for the teacher to start fresh; objectives and standards are put into place, and the lesson proceeds based on those guidelines. The Behaviorist Lesson Plan grows within itself, adding knowledge and learning with every step. The entire lesson is planned from the beginning so that it may be manipulated to the instructor’s vision.

The Constructivist Lesson Plan takes a different approach. The plan stems off of previous knowledge, experiences, and lessons. Constructivists build a ‘bridge’ between what the students know and what they will learn. The student is the focal point for Constructivists. Students may be divided into groups so that they may cooperate in learning new material. Rather than the lesson plan following the instructor’s pre-set plan, it flows with the pupils, who interact and share within it.

This brings to mind a central difference between the two lesson plans; the former is self-reliant, and obtains its strength and integrity from the instructor. The latter relies on the pupils far more, and in doing so opens itself up to new possibilities beyond what the lesson plan entails. The Behaviorist Lesson Plan, then, is safer. It is assured that the benchmarks will be met despite what may occur apart from the lesson. The Constructivist Lesson Plan, on the same token, takes a risk. The students are not blank slates, and such may help or hinder the lesson’s development.

And now, how to end? A plan leads you through a step-by-step procedure to accomplish a goal, no matter what it may be. And what is experienced throughout the plan is integral to achieving a high-class learning environment.