Which learning theory emphasizes learners actively constructing knowledge rather than passively receiving information?

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The main idea here is that learners actively build their own understanding rather than simply absorbing information from a teacher. In constructivism, knowledge isn’t handed to students; it’s created as learners connect new ideas to what they already know, test them through exploration and inquiry, and revise their thinking based on experience and reflection. A science activity, for example, might have students design an experiment, observe outcomes, and explain how the results fit with or challenge their initial ideas, rather than just listening to a lecture and memorizing facts. This active construction of meaning is what sets constructivism apart from approaches that view learning as a product of responses to stimuli (behaviorism) or as primarily about internal mental processing and schemas (cognitivism). Social aspects are present in constructivism when learners discuss and negotiate ideas with others, but the emphasis remains on how individuals build understanding through experience.