EDTC 3320-01 – Instructional Design
William Michel
Behaviorism is the theory that involves
conditioning as the method behind the way
something is learned. Conditioning is found
by interacting with the environment.
Cognitivism is the newer theory that involves
taking into consideration how a person
thinks, perceives, remembers and learns.
Best Known For:
The Law of Effect
Animal Research
Known as the “father of modern
educational psychology”
Trial-and-error learning theorist
Behaviorism
Strengths
Behaviorism
Weaknesses
 Teaching facts, simple
procedures, concepts,
and rules.
 Most successful when
learning cues are the
same as desired
performance.
 Difficult to transfer
learning to novel
situations.
 Unpredictable result
when stimulus is absent.
 No problem solving
strategies.
Educational Psychology, (1903)
Introduction to the Theory of Mental and
Social Measurements, (1904)
The Elements of Psychology, (1905)
Animal Intelligence, (1911)
The Measurement of Intelligence, (1927)
The Fundamentals of Learning, (1932)
Best Known For:
Theory of cognitive development
Genetic epistemology
"The principle goal of education in the
schools should be creating men and
women who are capable of doing new
things, not simply repeating what other
generations have done.”
-Jean Piaget
 Skill transfer.
Cognitivism
Strengths
 Effective to teach
-Complex behaviors
-The best way to perform a task
-Specific way to perform
-Rules or ways to think
 Creates uniform behaviors.
Cognitivism
Weaknesses
 Assumes behavior is the
only or best way.
Origins of Intelligence in the Child (1936)
Play, Dreams and Imitation in Childhood (1945)
Main Trends in Psychology (1970)
Genetic Epistemology (1970)
Memory and Intelligence (1973)
Behaviorism is the theory that involves
conditioning as the method behind the way
something is learned. Edward Thorndike was a
behaviorist and believed in the Law of Effect.
Cognitivism is the newer theory that involves
taking into consideration how a person thinks,
perceives, remembers and learns. Jean Piaget was
a cognitivist and believed in the theory of
cognitive development.
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http://funderstanding.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Jean-Piaget.jpg
Ling, V. (2011). Teacher e-portfolio: behaviorism, cognitivism and constructivism - The
Basics. Vivianshine.blogspot.com. Retrieved 17 October 2014, from
http://vivianshine.blogspot.com/2011/12/behaviorism-cognitivism-and.html
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learning theories. Retrieved 17 October 2014, from
http://teachinglearningresources.pbworks.com/w/page/19919565/Learning%20The
ories
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Thorndike