Theories of Learning
By: Megan McGeady
Michelle Stevens
Cognitivism
Human Development Theory
• Established by Jean Piaget
(1896-1980)
• Part of Piaget’s four stages of
development
-Sensorimotor
-Pre-operational
- Concrete operational
- Formal Operational
Information Process Theory
Three major factors contribute to this
theory:
The following can be referred to as
Memory banks:
•Sensory Register
•Working Memory
•Long-term Memory
The following are additional
components that can have a factor on
this process:
Attention, rehearsal, organization, and
elaboration.
Behaviorism
Classical Conditioning
• Established by Ivan Pavlov
(1849-1936)
• Theory that you can get a
reaction out of someone by
conditioning them for a
specific response.
• Tested theory on a 11
month old child named
Albert, who became afraid
of rats because he
associated the rats with a
loud noise that would occur
when they were near him.
Behaviorist Theory
Contributors to this theory:
•Watson
•Pavlov
•Skinner
•Thorndike
•Bandura
Known as a passive form of
learning.
Described as using a lower form of
thinking when learning.
Social Learning Theory
• Established by Bandura
• Four conditions are apart of this
theory:
-Attention- watch the behavior occur
-Retention- Recall what was
observed
-Motor reproduction: Replicate
behavior
-Motivation- Feel the need to
demonstrate
that behavior
Meant to represent the behavior
that is imitated with social
learning
Bobo Doll Experiment
•Conducted by Albert Bandura
•Used to show that that all human behavior was learned trough social
imitation and copying, rather then inherited genetic factors.
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHHdovKHDNU
•Results:
• Children who were exposed to the aggressive model were more likely to show imitative
aggressive behavior themselves.
•
Boys were nearly three times more likely to replicate physically violent behavior than girls.
•
It is not certain that children learn socially, but it is likely that children observing an adult
model utilizing violence are more likely to believe that this type of behavior is normal.
Constructivism
-Learning is an active,
constructive process
-Learner constructs information
-New information linked to prior
knowledge
-Learner is not a blank slate
-Originators and important
contributors include Vygotsky,
Piaget, Dewey, Vico, Rorty, and
Bruner.
Stage theory of Cognitive Development
• Jean Piaget
• Four distinct stages in
children:
-Sensorimotor
-Pre operational
-Concrete
-Formal
Children go through four stages
in order to reach final form of
cognition
Discovery Learning
• Inquiry-based
• Discover facts and
relationships on own
• More likely to remember
concepts and knowledge
discovered on their own
• Many advantages and
disadvantages linked to
theory
• Jerome Bruner
Social development theory
•Lev Vygotsky
•Connections between people and
sociocultural context they act and
interact in shared experiences.
•Students play an active role in
learning
•Three Major Themes
• Social interaction fundamental
role in progress of cognitive
development
• More Knowledgeable Other
(MKO)
• Zone of Proximal Development
(ZPD)
Connectivism
Connectivism
• Incorporates Behaviorism,
Connectivism, and
Constructivism into its own
theory.
• Theory established by two
theorists: Downes and
Seigmens
• First theory to incorporate
technology into it theory
Principles of connectivism
Principles of connectivism:
•Learning and knowledge rests in diversity of opinions.
•Learning is a process of connecting specialized nodes or information
sources.
•Learning may reside in non-human appliances.
•Capacity to know more is more critical than what is currently known
•Nurturing and maintaining connections is needed to facilitate continual
learning.
•Ability to see connections between fields, ideas, and concepts is a core skill.
•Currency (accurate, up-to-date knowledge) is the intent of all connectivist
learning activities.
•Decision-making is itself a learning process. Choosing what to learn and the
meaning of incoming information is seen through the lens of a shifting reality.
While there is a right answer now, it may be wrong tomorrow due to
alterations in the information climate affecting the decision.
Connectivism Vs. Cognitivism
• Integration of cognition and
emotions in meaningmaking is important.
• Thinking and emotions
influence each other
 Focuses on inner mental
activities
 Mental processes, like
thinking, memory,
knowing, and problemsolving need to be
explored
• Nurturing and maintaining
connections is needed to
facilitate learning
 people are rational beings
• Learning is a knowledge
creation process, not only
knowledge consumption
 People’s actions are a
that require active
participation in order to
learn.
consequence of thinking