Constructivism assumes that students learn as they work to understand their experiences and create meaning. In the social constructivist model, teachers are knowers who craft a curriculum to support a self-directed, collaborative search for meanings. According to Siemens (2005), "Constructivist principles acknowledge that real-life learning is messy and complex. Classrooms which emulate the 'fuzziness' of this learning will be more effective in preparing learners for life-long learning" ("Background," ¶6). However, this open-ended process is still a linear one founded on objectives that reflect what experts have decided learners should be learning.
Siemens, G. 2005. Connectivism: A learning theory for the digital age. International Journal of Instructional Technology and Distance Learning 2 (1). http://itdl.org/Journal/Jan_05/article01.htm (accessed May 27, 2008). Archived at http://www.webcitation.org/5Xuh37vbA.