The Theories of Learning
Behaviorism
Cognitivism
Constructivism
Matt Pendleton
EME2040
Section 1357
What is Behaviorism?
• The study of behavior and how it reacts to
a stimulus.
• It also studies the consequences of the
reaction.
• John Watson was the first to
use the word.
Behaviorism Video
• Watch the video of Behaviorism in the
Classroom
– Kelly & Susan Adams Case
BYU McKay School of Education
education.byu.edu
What is Cognitivism?
• It’s a mental process that takes place
when information enters through the
senses then gets stored in memory and is
then used.
• It is understanding the mind.
• Very similar in how a computer works.
What is Constructivism?
• There are two types of constructivist views
– Socio-Cultural
• Learning comes from working with others, so our
cultural background is important since we learn
behaviors from others.
– Cognitive
• Ideas/past experiences mix with new ones to
create our new knowledge.
Constructivism Video
• Watch the video of Constructivism in the
Classroom
– Brenda Beyal Case
BYU McKay School of Education
education.byu.edu
Comparison
Behavior
How
People
Learn
Behaviorism
Cognitivism
People learn through
reinforcements
which shape their
behavior
Information
enters through
senses then gets
stored in memory
and is then used.
Past experiences
and working with
others shape the
learned behavior
•Simulations
•AI
•Virtual Reality
•Programming
•Hypermedia
•Concept Maps
•Teaching Machines
Uses in
Technology •Instructional Films
•Direct Instruction
Constructivism
Resources on the Web
For more information on:
• Behaviorism
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Behaviorism
http://web.cocc.edu/cbuell/theories/behaviorism.htm
• Cognitivism
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cognitivism_%28psychology%29
http://web.cocc.edu/cbuell/theories/cognitivism.htm
• Constructivism
• http://chiron.valdosta.edu/whuitt/col/cogsys/construct.html
http://web.cocc.edu/cbuell/theories/constructivism.htm