Which approach to learning involves using prior knowledge to create new understanding?

The approach to learning that involves using prior knowledge to create new understanding is Constructivism. This educational philosophy posits that learners actively construct their own understanding and knowledge of the world, through experiencing things and reflecting on those experiences. As individuals integrate new information with their existing cognitive frameworks, they are able to build a more complex understanding of concepts. Constructivism emphasizes the importance of context and social interactions in learning, supporting the idea that learners gain deeper knowledge by connecting new information to what they already know.

In contrast, teacher-led learning primarily involves direct instruction from the educator, where students may not actively engage with their prior knowledge in the learning process. Behaviorism focuses on observable behaviors and tends to ignore the cognitive processes that occur when learning. Cognitive development, while related to how knowledge and understanding progress, does not primarily emphasize the role of using prior knowledge to gain new insights in the same way Constructivism does.