Learning Theories

Learning Theories

Sociocultural

Adult Learning Theory

Connectivism

Role of Memory

Adults, unlike children, are very interested in their learning. They are motivated and eager to learn. Adults have the choice to learn, as higher education is an option and not necessary like the K-12 system. Adults sign up and pay for their higher education. Adults want to learn because it will help them reach their goals–they learn with a purpose (Bouchrika, 2024). Adults connect their learning to real-life issues, experiences, or scenarios--so they know that their new knowledge will give them an advantage for their future career/job.

Role of Memory

Connectivism points out that students learn by online courses that they may take (Kropf, 2013). Individuals also learn by social media, podcast or videos they watch. Students may also learn by playing video games. Everything the student does is on their own and stays in their memory.

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Types of Learning

Students learn through various mediums; it could be through internet use, from their culture, or from their peers and instructors (Kropf, 2013). There are different ways these students learn and it is taken in from all the influences around them. Social media plays a huge role in connectivism, especially now.

Major Characteristics

People learn from their cultural beliefs, this makes everyone's thoughts different because everyone comes from different cultures and family structures (Cherry, 2022). Another characteristic is that learners are influenced by their peers and instructors. Every person in the individual's life has some sort of influence on each learner.

Major Characteristics

Students learn based on the connections that they make. It could be technological like online learning environments, but students can also build connections with people who share their interests and views (Kropf, 2013). The students' learning can occur through the internet, articles read, or video clips and podcasts that they listen to. The Internet provides individuals with the opportunity to learn on their own about their interests.

How Learning Occurs

Learning occurs through an individual's culture, their culture plays a role in their beliefs and their attitude toward their ideas (Cherry, 2022). Learning also occurs through the learning of other individuals involved in the learner's life, for example, peers and teachers. Individuals influence the learner's life. Scaffolding takes a role in the way learning occurs because students are given the right amount of assistance for the learner to learn and flourish on their own.

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Major Theorist

Malcolm Knowles

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Role of Memory

Students learn by their Zone of Proximal Development, teachers/parents assist their children--but only to a certain extent (Cherry, 2022). Teachers/parents scaffold for their students for them to grow confidence and independence in doing the task. Then students learn and grow to do this task by themselves. If students are unsure of a certain task they learn through learning from others. Individuals look at other students and learn by viewing the way their peers do the work. By scaffolding and having other models available for students gives a positive experience of learning new concepts.

Major Characteristics

Adults learn differently than children and require their education to be focused on the adult and their needs. Even though they are adults, their education still needs to be focused on the type of learners that they are. There are five pillars to adult learning; self-concept, experience, eagerness to learn, orientation of learning and motivation (Bouchrika, 2024). The adult needs connections based on life rather than their learning to be based on a single subject, they need to connect it to their prior knowledge and know that they are going to use their new knowledge.

Major Theorist

Leo Vygotsky

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Types of Learning

The zone of proximal development allows students to learn with assistance (Cherry, 2023). There are three different categories where students can fall in, it is what students can do with assistance, what students can do without assistance and what a student cannot accomplish with asssitance. The zone of proximal development allows students to learn as their own rate with the guidance of someone with knowledge. Scaffolding allows the support needed in order for the student to work and learn at their own pace and focus on the skill they need extra support on.

Types of Learning

Adult learners enjoy learning hands on and not being lectured, since they may have related experiences they give richer meanings to what is being taught (Bouchrika, 2024). They all think of new ideas and work on their skills when learning new information. Adult learners also enjoy collaborating and working with others, not only to share ideas but to share their knowledge and experience as well. They also enjoy learning to be self-directed, meaning that they do their tasks on their own time so that they learn at their own pace. Adults are aware of the benefits of higher education, hence their motivation and eagerness to learn more. They know that they will gain knowledge and that gaining it will be a stepping stone for their career.

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Major Theorist

George Siemens

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How Learning Occurs

Learning is self-directed and adults like knowing that there's someone available to help them if needed, but they do not need a teacher like they did when they were young (Bouchrika, 2024). Adults take on the responsibility of making sure their work is completed and do it without relying on anyone else other than themselves. They do what is best for them and make sure that they are doing what is best for them in the learning process and facilitate their learning.

How Learning Occurs

Students now learn things themselves and share their knowledge with others as well (Kropf, 2013). Students in the present day share their knowledge by posting videos, podcasts and other ways using social media. Students also learn from their parents, teachers, and friends.