Learning Theories

Learning Theories

cognitivism

constructivism

Behaviorism

Behaviorism Learning Theory

• Behavioral Psychology Founder: Edward Thornedike (Orenstein & Hunkins, 2016)
• Characteristic: Differences in attitudes and actions (Gould, 2023).
• Memory: Changed behavior responds best to reward. The positive behavior is repeated for the reward (Orenstein & Hunkins, 2016)
• How Learning Occurs: Method is structured to support and strengthen the wanted behavior (Orenstein & Hunkins, 2016)
• Types of Learning: Repetition of the skill contributes to the learned behavior (Orenstein & Hunkins, 2016)

Cognitivism Learning Theory

• Major Theorist: Jean Piaget (Gould, 2023)
• Characteristic: Theory focuses on understanding, attention, and memory (Orenstein & Hunkins, 2016).
• Memory: Short term vs Long term. Working Memory is beyond short term memory and is currently revelavant to the learner (Cowan, 2022).
• How Learning Occurs: Knowledge of this theory comes from fact-based learning, learned skilled from repetition, and from learning strategies that focus on learning and remembering (Gould, 2023).
• Types of Learning: Media based learning is beneficaly for the working memory (2021).

Constructivism Learning Theory

• Major Theorist: Jean Piaget contributed to the idea of people learning and interacting from the environment (Orenstein & Hunkins, 2016).
• Characteristic: The learner is an active participant the learning process and incorporates new ideas with current knowledge (Orenstein & Hunkins, 2016).
• Memory: Factors affect memory such as age and motivation as learner must learn how to learn (Gould, 2023).
• How Learning Occurs: Metacognition refers to a person being aware of what and how they are learning (Orensteing & Hunkins, 2016). Learners should be able to expand learning.
• Types of Learning: Discovery learning, critical thinking, and creative thinking (Orenstein & Hunkins, 2016).