Constructivism And The Nature Of Science

In this chapter, I first want to discuss what I mean when I talk about ‘constructivism‘, and to discuss the three ways this epistemological perspective has influenced this research project: (1) through influencing the planning of the school and the teaching of my colleagues, (2) through influencing my own teaching, and (3) through influencing my approaches and methods for research. In addressing the impact of constructivist perspectives on the nature of science on my colleagues’ teaching, I have drawn on Norman Lederman’s (1992) review of research related to teachers’ understandings of, and perspectives on, the nature of science.