Constructivist approaches to instruction were sharply criticized, and defended, by a series of articles in the Educational Psychologist in 2006 and 2007. The book Constructivist Instruction. Success or Failure (Routledge, 2009) examines the controversy about constructivist approaches in detail. Edited by an eclectic (Tobias) and a constructivist (Duffy), who contribute three chapters, the book introduces the controversy, followed by five chapters by leading constructivists who summarize the evidence for constructivism. These are followed by five chapters from leading critics of constructivist positions, and another five chapters examine key learning and motivational issues in the controversy. Two concluding chapters summarize the arguments and recommend needed research.
Fifteen chapters are followed by a printed debate, in the form of a discussion, between critics and supporters of constructivist approaches. Completed manuscripts were sent to the author(s) of two other chapters holding opposing views to raise questions about issues raised in the original chapter. The authors then responded to the questions raised by critics; in many instances these exchanges had several cycles. An excerpt of the volume's first review by Thomas C. Reeves published in the March-April, 2010, Vol. 50, No. 2, issue of Educational Technology concludes: "… the bottom line is that I highly recommend this book to everyone in the field of educational technology, regardless of their 'bent' for or against constructivist learning environments. Indeed, this book should be required reading for all doctoral students in the fields variously described as the learning sciences or instructional technology" (p. 52)
Other Recent Publications by Professor Tobias:
Tobias, S., & Duffy, T.D. (Eds., 2009) Constructivist instruction: Success or failure? New York: Routledge, Taylor and Francis.
Tobias, S. An eclectic appraisal of the success or failure of constructivist instruction: (pp. 335-350).
Tobias, S. & Duffy, T.D. The success or failure of constructivist instruction: An introduction. (pp. 3-10)
Tobias, S., & Fletcher, J.D., (2009). Transforming learning with technology redux. Educational Technology, 49 (3), 54-58.
Tobias, S. (2009). Report on the Games for Change meeting. ADL Newsletter for Educators and Educational Researchers. Issue 12 (An e Newsletter I edit). http://www.ymlp165.com/pubarchive.php?adlnews
Tobias, S., & Everson, H.T. (2009). The importance of knowing what you know: A knowledge monitoring framework for studying metacognition in education In D.L. Hacker, J. Dunlosky, & A. Graesser (Eds.) Handbook of metacognition in education (pp. 107-127). New York: Routledge, Taylor, and Francis.
Tobias, S. (2010). Generative learning, paradigm shifts, and constructivism. A tribute to Wittrock. Educational Psychologist, 45, 51-54.
