Which philosophy of education suggests that individuals construct their understanding based on the meaning they assign to knowledge?

The philosophy of education that suggests individuals construct their understanding based on the meaning they assign to knowledge is constructivism. This approach emphasizes that learning is an active, contextualized process of constructing knowledge rather than a passive absorption of information.

In constructivism, learners build their own understanding and knowledge of the world through experiencing things and reflecting on those experiences. It posits that people create meaning through their interactions with the environment, social contexts, and previous knowledge, meaning that learning is a personal and subjective process. Constructivists advocate for teaching methods that respect and harness students' existing knowledge and encourage exploration, collaboration, and deeper engagement with content.

The other philosophies mentioned, such as essentialism, reconstructivism, and perennialism, do not emphasize the individual construction of knowledge in the same way. Essentialism focuses on a core set of knowledge and skills to be mastered, while perennialism underscores the importance of enduring ideas and great works of literature and philosophy, often promoting a more traditional approach to education. Reconstructivism seeks to address social issues and promote societal change, focusing on creating a better society through education, rather than on the individual construction of personal understanding.