Elements of Surprise in Teaching and Learning

« 1 » ana isabel sacristan pinpoints the deep connection between modeling-based learning (MbL) and constructionism and affirms that the first is a form of the latter. at the same time, nikoleta Yiannoutsou highlights a number of powerful technological communities using “constructionist tools” and bringing constructionism to life. taking these remarks one step further, i would like to pinpoint the deep relationship between MbL, constructionism, and the reggio Emilia approach and support that the latter is (even though not about computers) a learning community bringing together the first two (MbL and constructionism). as i will elaborate further on, this connection is of a fundamental significance for many of the discussions within the constructionism community as well as for the issues raised by sacristan and Yiannoutsou in their responses to the target article. « 2 » as a scholar coming from the perspective of early childhood education, i could not have been but inspired by the reggio Emilia approach, as i was inspired by constructionism. The common convictions between the two were quite apparent. But i was delightfully surprised when i became aware that people coming from the constructionism community (but not directly from the domain of early childhood education) had identified the same connections as i did (even before i did).