Which statement best describes constructivism?

• A. Learning is passive and teacher-centered.
• B. Learners construct new knowledge on the basis of prior experiences.
• C. Knowledge is transmitted directly from teacher to student.
• D. Learning is solely due to reinforcement.

Answer: (B)

Constructivism is the idea that learners actively build their own understanding by connecting new information to what they already know. Learning happens as students interpret, reorganize, and refine ideas through experience and reflection, rather than passively receiving facts. This means new concepts are understood in light of prior experiences and existing mental models.

That’s why the statement describing learners constructing new knowledge on the basis of prior experiences fits best. It captures the active, meaning-making nature of learning, where understanding grows by linking new material to what’s already in the learner’s mind.

The other descriptions align more with different views of learning. If learning is passive and teacher-centered, it suggests information is absorbed without the learner actively making sense of it. If knowledge is transmitted directly from teacher to student, it treats learning as a one-way transfer rather than an active construction. If learning is solely due to reinforcement, it reflects behaviorist ideas and ignores how learners interpret and reorganize concepts internally.