Designing applets that foster constructivist teaching and learning

Abstract

The Modular Approach to Physics (MAP) project makes extensive use of “educational objects” which include Flash animations, Java Applets and Java Applications. A paramount concern in the design of these objects has been to work from an overtly constructivist philosophy. In this paper we will look at the design of educational objects and provide examples of how constructivist principles can be applied to the development of effective computer based learning objects. Our talk will include a demonstration of some of the JAVA applets and Flash animations currently used in the MAP project and a “behind the scenes” look at how and why they were constructed.