Radical constructivism accentuates the subjectivity of constructions of reality and thus refutes the possibility of insights gamed by independent observers. In the context, constructivistic didactics hold out the prospect of a modelling of subject-oriented worlds of learning in the course of a corresponding averting of linear-causal models. The author examines constructivistically oriented didactic concepts as a result of pedagogical strategies of gratification with the help of which radical queries can be smoothed out and fitted into current debates on reform.

Heute besteht die Gefahr, daß die Paradigmen der Objektivisten und Konstruktivisten zu polarisierenden Diskussionen über die “richtige” Form der Unterrichtsgestaltung führen. Eine Ursache dafür sind die vielen theoretischen Ansätze, die nur ungenügend durch Unterrichtsbeispiele untermauert sind. Deshalb werden hier als mögliche Lösung Elemente konstruktivistischen Unterrichtes umschrieben und in einem Pilotversuch im Fach Betriebswirtschaftslehre angewandt. Aus den Erfahrungen dieses Versuches ergibt sich, daß Ansätze des radikalen Konstruktivismus machbar sind, daß aber wahrscheinlich ein breites Repertoire im Unterrichtsverhalten von Lehrkräften wirksamer ist. Englisch: Today, we run the risk that the paradigms of objectivists and constructivists will lead to polarized discussions on the “correct” way of structuring school teaching. This is partly due to the many theoretical approaches which are not sufficiently substantiated by concrete examples of teaching practice. Therefore, and as a possible solution, the author describes elements of a constructivist approach to teaching, which are then, as a pilot study, applied to business management instruction. The results show that, although approaches of radical constructivism are feasible, a broad repertoire of teaching behavior would probably be much more effective.

Today, we run the risk that the paradigms of objectivists and constructivists will lead to polarized discussions on the “correct” way of structuring school teaching. This is partly due to the many theoretical approaches which are not sufficiently substantiated by concrete examples of teaching practice. Therefore, and as a possible solution, the author describes elements of a constructivist approach to teaching, which are then, as a pilot study, applied to business management instruction. The results show that, although approaches of radical constructivism are feasible, a broad repertoire of teaching behavior would probably be much more effective.

Die konstruktivistische Sichtweise hat sich in der naturwissenschaftsdidaktischen Lehrund Lernforschung als fruchtbar und flexibel erwiesen. Zunächst eher radikal konstruktivistischen Positionen des Wissenserwerbs nahe, hat sie sich zu einem Paradigma entwickelt, das über Aspekte des Wissenserwerbs hinausgeht und wichtige Aspekte des sozialen Konstruktivismus einschließt. Dieses Paradigma sieht die individuelle und soziale Konstruktion des Wissens eingebettet in umfassende Ansätze des naturwissenschaftlichen Unterrichts, die sich an den Fähigkeiten, Interessen und Bedürfnissen der Schüler orientieren. Es hat auch der Entwicklung von neuen Modellen der Lehrerbildung wichtige Impulse gegeben. Unter dem Dach des Konstruktivismus ist ein breites Spektrum unterschiedlicher Ausrichtungen versammelt, dessen gemeinsamer Kern einem pragmatischen, moderaten Konstruktivismus entspricht. Englisch: The constructivist view has proven a most powerful paradigm for science education research on learning and instruction. Initially near to radical constructivist ideas it has developed towards a paradigm that goes far beyond a frame for knowledge acquisition and also includes issues of social constructivism. Construction of knowledge is viewed as embedded in somewhat holistic approaches of orienting science instruction towards student’s abilities, interests, and needs in general. The constructivist view has also provided science teacher education with powerful new ideas. There are many variants under the umbrella of the constructivist view which by no means forms a consistent theory. But the common core of this view may be indicated by the position of a pragmatic and moderate constructivism.

The constructivist view has proven a most powerful paradigm for science education research on learning and instruction. Initially near to radical constructivist ideas it has developed towards a paradigm that goes far beyond a frame for knowledge acquisition and also includes issues of social constructivism. Construction of knowledge is viewed as embedded in somewhat holistic approaches of orienting science instruction towards student’s abilities, interests, and needs in general. The constructivist view has also provided science teacher education with powerful new ideas. There are many variants under the umbrella of the constructivist view which by no means forms a consistent theory. But the common core of this view may be indicated by the position of a pragmatic and moderate constructivism.

Die gegenwärtige Konstruktivismus-Diskussion bietet in bezug auf den Wissenserwerb ein uneinheitliches und verwirrendes Bild. Aus diesem Grund werden drei Diskussionslinien in diesem Beitrag herausgearbeitet. Ausgehend von Fragen nach der Objektivität des Wissens und dessen Verhältnis zur Welt, nach der theoretischen Modellierung des Wissens, seiner kontextuellen und kulturellen Einbettung und schließlich nach den Möglichkeiten der Förderung des Wissenserwerbs werden drei Varianten unterschieden:(1) Konstruktivismus als Erkenntnis- und Wissenschaftstheorie; (2) “Neuer” Konstruktivismus in der Soziologie, Kognitionswissenschaft und Psychologie; (3) konstruktivistische Ansätze in der Instruktionspsychologie und empirischen Pädagogik. Abschließend werden Schlußfolgerungen für die Psychologie des Wissenserwerbs gezogen. Englisch: As regards knowledge acquisition, the present discussion on constructivism is marked by a confusing diversity. Therefore, the authors attempt to identify three distinct lines of discussion. Based on questions concerning the objectivity of knowledge and its relation to the universe, the theoretical modeling of knowledge, its contextual and cultural embedding and, finally, possibilities of promoting knowledge acquisition, three different approaches are distinguished: (1) constructivism as epistemology and theory of science; (2) “new” constructivism in the fields of sociology, cognitive science, and psychology; and (3) constructivist approaches in educational psychology and empirical pedagogics. Finally, consequences for the psychology of knowledge acquisition are drawn.

Even today, there are several competing and fundamentally different approaches to the interpretation of the “autopoiesis concept” in pedagogics; and quite often it remains unclear by what a specific interpretation is characterized and from which other actually existing position it distinguishes itself. Therefore, it is the author’s aim to differentiate between and analyze different interpretations of this concept – namely, the technological, the irritated, the humanist, and the meta-theoretical interpretation. This analysis is followed by a plea for a continued controversial approach to systems theory.

Auf der Basis ethnographisch generierter Daten wird die Erzeugung von Wissen im Unterricht in Form adäquater Schülerantworten analysiert. Der Aufsatz beschreibt die asymmetrische Konstellation der Teilnehmer als Grundlage des Unterrichts und analysiert die Integration unterschiedlicher Leistungsniveaus der Schüler in die Bearbeitung schulischen Wissens. In der Analyse des empirischen Materials wird methodisch auf die Konversationsanalyse zurückgegriffen, mit der das Herstellen richtiger Schülerantworten als eine schrittweise Bewegung von Lehrerfrage zur Schülerantwort darstellbar wird. Fokussiert wird die “selbstinitiierte Fremdkorrektur”. Es werden Mittel beschrieben, mit denen Lehrer Antworten der Schüler kommentieren. Vier unterscheidbare Verfahren, adäquate Antworten hervorzubringen, werden analysiert. Englisch: On the basis of ethnographically generated data, the author analyzes the fabrication of adequate answers to teacher questions. First, the asymmetric constellation of the participants in the classroom setting is described, followed by an analysis of the integration of the students’ different achievements levels into the processing of school knowledge. In his analysis of the empirical data, the author draws on the conversational analysis which allows to describe the production of adequate student responses as a stepwise process from teacher question to student response. The paper focuses on the “self-initiated correction by others” and describes teachers’ means of commenting student responses. Four distinct procedures of producing adequate responses are analyzed.

The recent development of radical constructivism and System theory raises the question whether the concept of self-organization and its functional equivalents – “autopoiesis” and “emergence” – (SAE) are empirically more substantial and therefore theoretically more appropriate than the classical German notion of “Bildung”. In discussing this question, the author starts with a summary of current critical arguments against the notion of “Bildung” and with a differentiation of four valid dimensions of the concept of “Bildung”. In a second step, the elements of the concept of SAE are reconstructed as ideal types. Finally, “Bildung” and SAE are compared in respect to nine characteristics. It is shown that both notions are equivalent with regard to their paradoxical structure, however, the concept of SAE seems to offer broader possibilities for a reflexive theory of human ontogenesis.

The current didactic discussion of a constructivist consideration of learning is examined for its capacity to limit the position of educational instruction by a new perspective on the subject. As alternative the learning theory of Holzkamp is offered, which understands learning as substantiated and interested subjective activity in thecontextof society. This theory is limiting the position of instruction very efficiently on a theoretical and a practical level.