The constructivist learning theory says that children learn best when they construct a personal understanding based on experiencing things and reflecting on those experiences.The constructivist learning theory says that children learn best when they construct a personal understanding based on experiencing things and reflecting on those experiences. (wikipedia)
Constructivism as a Paradigm for Teaching and Learning
Active Learning Practices for Schools
(Harvard)
Hello Pat -
I agree that inquiry-based learning is a form of constructivism, but I don’t think the reverse is necessarily true (that constructivism is inquiry-based).
Here’s what NCREL’s online glossary says:
constructivism: Theory suggesting that students learn by constructing their own knowledge, especially through hands-on exploration. It emphasizes that the context in which an idea is presented, as well as student attitude and behavior, affects learning. Students learn by incorporating new information into what they already know.
inquiry: A process in which students investigate a problem, devise and work through a plan to solve the problem, and propose a solution to the problem.
The difference being that inquiry-based learning, by definition, starts with a question - a problem to be solved. Then through the process of constructivism, the student learns by finding answers to the question(s), or posing other associated questions, etc.