Constructivist education provides the overarching framework for the Centers' applied research and dissemination activities. Constructivist theory is based on Piaget's work which demonstrates that children actively construct their knowledge and intelligence. Constructivist education facilitates children's active construction of knowledge by: engaging the child's interest through appealing "hands-on" activities, inspiring active experimentation with phenomena of the physical world with all its necessary groping and error, and fostering cooperation between adults and children and among children themselves. The role of the constructivist teacher is to create an atmosphere that fosters active reasoning and mutual respect. The constructivist teacher is a companion and guide who minimizes the exercise of authority and stimulates:

"Reasoning is developed as children are doing things that interest them. The goal of constructivist education is to create an atmosphere that inspires children to explore, to experiment, to make mistakes, and have wonderful ideas."

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