Theories of Learning

By: Megan McGeady

Michelle Stevens

Cognitivism

Human Development Theory

Established by Jean Piaget

(1896-1980)
Part of Piagets 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.

Focuses on inner mental

activities

Mental processes, like

Thinking and emotions
influence each other

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

Peoples actions are a

that require active

participation in order to
learn.

consequence of thinking