how can their theory encompass both the collective activity and the individual experience to take into account the important classroom social interactions that are so much a part of the entire educational process? Such questions underlie the complexities involved in translating the diversity of perspectives into a common set of principles that can be operationalized. Yet, as Ernest claims in relation to the varying constructivist perspectives: "there is the risk of wasting time by worrying over the minutiae of differences" (p.459). Perhaps then, the optimal starting point for understanding the constructivist perspective to teaching and learning is to consider what constructivism is not.