ABSTRACT
Seymour Papert, a mathematician and scholar in the field of artificial intelligence, developed a theory of teaching and learning known as constructionism. Papert collaborated for many years with genetic epistemologist, Jean Piaget. Indeed, the theory of constructionism is built on Piaget's stage theory of cognitive development. Papert's theory of constructionism draws on insights gleaned from his own empirical work and also from the work of other epistemologists. This chapter discusses the intellectual foundations of constructionist theory as an epistemology. It addresses an inherent intellectual tension in the formulation of the theory as regards the relationship of Piaget's theory of constructivism to social-constructionist thought. The chapter then focuses on constructionism as an excellent pedagogical approach to enabling student creativity in technology-rich learning environments. Finally, it reviews projects and research that demonstrate the utility of a constructionist approach for both the development of creativity and learning in various domains.
