According to constructivists, personal experiences influence learning and meaning-making:

• A. Personal experiences do not affect learning.
• B. Learning is shaped solely by formal instruction.
• C. Personal experiences must be identical across learners.
• D. Personal experiences influence learning and meaning-making.

Answer: (D)

Learning is seen as a process of building understanding from what the learner already knows and has experienced. Personal experiences provide the lens through which new information is interpreted, shaping how ideas are accepted, revised, or rejected. This is why the statement that personal experiences influence learning and meaning-making fits best with constructivist thinking: individuals actively construct knowledge by connecting new concepts to their prior life experiences, beliefs, and the context they’re in. For example, a student who has hands-on experience with a hobby will often link new ideas to that activity, forming meaning in a unique way. In contrast, views that learning comes only from formal instruction, or that experiences must be identical across learners, or that experiences don’t affect learning at all, don’t reflect how meaning is personally built through diverse, context-rich experiences.