Constructivism describes learning as what?

• A. Active, constructive process built on prior knowledge
• B. Passive absorption of information
• C. Memorization without context
• D. Reinforcement-based behavior change

Answer: (A)

Constructivism describes learning as an active, constructive process where learners integrate new information with prior knowledge to build understanding. Instead of passively receiving facts, students explore, question, and relate new ideas to what they already know, refining their mental models as they encounter evidence and feedback. In PT education this looks like solving case problems, discussing how a patient’s prior experiences influence interpretation of symptoms, and adjusting plans as new information emerges. The best answer captures this dynamic, meaning-making process rather than mere memorization or automatic responses. The other descriptions describe passive absorption, rote memorization without context, or behavior changes driven only by reinforcement, which don’t reflect how constructivist learning operates.