The Social Constructivist Perspective of Bruner and Ausubel

Back to: Learning and Teaching – Unit 3

Jerome Bruner and David Ausubel were both American psychologists who have contributed greatly in the field of educational psychology with their theories. Bruner proposed his learning theory in 1961 and Ausubel came up with his Meaningful Learning Theory in 1963. Ausubel’s theory emphasizes verbal learning

Social Constructivist Perspective of Bruner

According to Bruner’s theory, learning is an active process where information is gathered and new ideas are formed concerning past knowledge and current knowledge. He felt that the focus of education should be intellectual development, rather than the rote learning of facts. Bruner’s theory emphasizes the learning process by discovery.

Social Constructivist Perspective of Ausubel

David Ausubel was an American psychologist, who came up with the Meaningful Learning Theory, in 1963. The main focus of Ausubel’s theory is on meaningful learning. According to Ausubel, the key factor in learning is the knowledge one has already acquired. Meaningful learning is when a person interprets, relates, and takes in new information with the knowledge gained before and uses the new information to solve problems.

According to Ausubel, the key factor in learning is the knowledge one has already acquired. Meaningful learning is when a person interprets, relates, and takes in new information with the knowledge gained before and uses the new information to solve problems. The main focus of Ausubel’s theory is on meaningful learning.

Social Constructivist Perspective of Burner and Ausubel

1. Both Ausubel’s and Bruner’s theories come under constructivist learning theory which believes that learning is active. A relationship must be there between new information and new information in the learning process.

2. Ausubel’s theory emphasizes verbal learning whereas Bruner’s theory emphasises the learning process by discovery.

3. Ausubel encourages teaching verbally for effective learning and remembering the information for a long time. Bruner’s recommends reviewing the concepts and materials frequently in the learning process for remembering.
4. However, both of the psychologists suggest the idea of connecting one’s prior knowledge with the current knowledge to make the learning process effective.
5. Both of them believed that learning new knowledge depends on the knowledge already known. Bruner and Ausubel felt people should connect their new knowledge with the concepts they are already aware of for proper learning.
6. Hence, they encouraged in relating the new information acquired with the old information.

Educational Implications of Ausubel’s Meaningful Learning Theory

Ausubel has contributed a lot with his theories in the educational sector. He felt that for proper learning, students must connect their new knowledge with the previous knowledge gained. The educational implications of Ausubel’s Meaningful Learning Theory are:

1. The teachers should take into account what was obtained by students previously and try to relate it to the new knowledge.
2. Teachers should use phases, materials, contents, and ideas that connect with prior knowledge while establishing new knowledge.
3. Students should be able to relate what’s being taught with their previous knowledge.
4. Teachers should use techniques and methods of teaching that will gain the interest of the students in the learning process.
5. The learning material presented to the learners should be clear and organized for them to understand.
6. Teachers should use real-life examples to gather the attention of the students and make the teaching interesting.
7. For meaningful learning, there should be motivation in the students which the teachers should focus on developing in the students.