Ohio Assessments for Educators (OAE) Assessment of Professional Knowledge Practice Exam

Constructivism suggests that our understanding of the world is based on what?

1. Natural instincts and reflexes

2. Rules, values, and past experiences

3. Scientific theories and facts

4. Observation and imitation of others

The correct answer is: Rules, values, and past experiences

Constructivism posits that individuals construct their understanding and knowledge of the world through their experiences, interactions, and reflections. This theory emphasizes that our understanding is shaped significantly by personal experiences, social contexts, cultural backgrounds, and the interplay of prior knowledge and new information. Option B, which refers to rules, values, and past experiences, aligns perfectly with this concept. These elements are central to how learners interpret new information and relate it to what they already know. For instance, rules and values can guide an individual’s responses to situations, while past experiences provide a framework for interpreting new encounters. Through this lens, learners actively construct their knowledge rather than merely absorbing information passively. On the other hand, while natural instincts and reflexes, scientific theories and facts, and observation and imitation of others play roles in understanding, they do not encapsulate the core of constructivism as well as the combination of rules, values, and past experiences does. Instincts and reflexes are inherent and do not involve conscious construction of knowledge; scientific theories and facts are often seen as external and separate from an individual’s subjective experiences; and observation and imitation, while important, are not sufficient alone to explain how individuals derive meaning from their experiences. Thus, option