Enhancing Online Teaching Through a Social Constructivist Approach to Digital Technology Adoption

The integration of digital technologies has significantly enhanced the potential for effective online education.This study critically compares cognitive and social constructivist approaches in equipping schoolteachers to effectively utilize digital tools for online instruction.Findings suggest that the social constructivist frameworkemphasizing collaboration, shared knowledge construction and creative problem-solving-is more effective than the cognitive constructivist approach for facilitating the adoption of digital technologies in online teaching.Online learning, which leverages the Internet and the World Wide Web, inherently aligns with social constructivist principles due to its collaborative potential and interactive nature.Through an integrative review of qualitative research literature, this study also identifies common barriers that impede efficient online teaching.While digital technologies offer diverse and innovative opportunities for educators, their effective application requires ongoing engagement and adaptive pedagogical strategies.