Which pedagogical approach focuses on student engagement through prior knowledge?

The constructivist approach emphasizes the importance of prior knowledge in the learning process. This pedagogical method operates on the premise that learners construct their understanding and knowledge of the world through experiences and reflecting on those experiences. In this context, engaging students with what they already know allows them to connect new information with existing cognitive frameworks, thereby enhancing comprehension and retention.

By recognizing and leveraging prior knowledge, instructors can facilitate deeper learning, as students are more likely to be engaged and motivated when they see relevance in the new material. This approach fosters an interactive classroom environment where students become active participants in their learning journey rather than passive recipients of information.

The other methods mentioned, while effective in their own right, do not specifically center around the concept of students' prior knowledge as significantly as the constructivist approach does.