The didactic approach, one of information transmission, views teachers as masters of particular knowledge domains, whose job is to transmit expertise to students primarily by lectures and recitation. In the didactic class, students memorize facts and concepts of the domain, practice skills until they have mastered them, and demonstrate mastery on appropriate tests. (p.617)

The constructivist model, one of facilitating learning, views teachers as facilitators whose main function is to help students become active participants in their learning and make meaningful connections between prior knowledge, new knowledge and the processes involved in learning. The role of students form this perspective is to construct their own understandings and capabilities in carrying and challenging tasks. (p. 681)