Publication 1460

Excerpt: The development of a constructivist theory of knowing has been the focus of my interest for several decades. It was a philosophical interest that arose originally out of work concerning first the structure and semantics of several languages and later cognitive psychology. The title of this chapter, therefore, may need an explanation. Rosalind Driver, Reinders Duit, Heinrich Bauersfeld, and Paul Cobb, can speak about teaching from their own immediate experience, whereas I have never taught any of the subjects that you are experts in. So when I focus on the theory of constructivism, you may wonder why on earth a proponent of such a very peculiar theory of knowing should have anything to say about education in mathematics or science. It is a question I have often asked myself. If all goes well, you will see some justification at the end of my essay.

Key words: radical constructivism, education