Learning Theories

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Behaviorism ❖ Main Points :
Behaviorism, also known as behavioral psychology, is a theory of - Operates on the principle of stimulus-
learning which states that all behaviors are learned through response.
interaction with the environment through a process called - All behavior is caused by external
conditioning. Thus, behavior is simply a response to stimuli or operant conditioning.
environmental stimuli, and it is only concerned with observable - A view that assumes a learner is passive
stimulus-response behaviors, as they can be studied in a that responds to environmental stimuli.
systematic and observable manner. - Behavior is shaped through positive or
❖ Founders : negative reinforcement.
John Watson was the founder of behaviorist theory. He believed - There is no internal cognitive processing
that people's reactions in various situations were determined by of information.
how their overall experiences had programmed them to react. - Believes there is no difference in the way
Ivan Petrovich Pavlov was the first to introduce the concept of a human and a dog think.
conditioning through his experiments with animals. While this branch of psychology dominated
B.F. Skinner developed the theory of operant conditioning where the field during the first part of the twentieth
the consequences of a response determine the probability of it century, it became less prominent during
being repeated. In operant conditioning, behaviors are the 1950s, due to critics. Some say that the
manipulated when they are followed by either positive or approach disregards student identity and
negative reinforcement. individuality, and it studies actions of the
Edward Thorndike came up with the concept of instrumental body rather than that of the brain and is
conditioning and, like Pavlov, reached his main conclusion using therefore inept at assessing real learning.
data gained through animal-based experimentation.

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However, behavioral techniques remain a mainstay in therapy, - Drills: Students learn new things, such
education, and many other areas. People often utilize behavioral as vocabulary, by means of repeated
strategies such as classical conditioning and operant exercises.
conditioning to teach or modify behaviors. We can still notice - Question and answer: The teacher can
behaviorist techniques employed by schools in the classrooms on use a question as a stimulus and answer as
a regal basis. Using a system of rewards is an example of a a response, gradually getting harder.
behaviorist approach, rewarding students for working well with - Positive reinforcement: Is a type of
commendations or praise points (even with vocal praise) behavior management that focuses on
conditions them to behave or to strive for better work using the rewarding what is done well by students.
same operant conditioning techniques championed by Skinner.
You can also see behaviorist theory in the way we teach students Cognitivism
to revise for exams. The repetition of tasks and quizzes to
Cognitivism is an obvious criticism of
improve test scores and ultimately get a better grade is distinctly
behaviorism in that it insists that complex
behaviorist. Students learn that the more they practice, the more
human behavior is just the simple result of
praise they will receive for doing well and achieving higher
stimulus and response. The cognitive theory
grades.
attempts to explain human learning by
To conclude, by providing valuable and speedy feedback,
understanding the internal mental process.
rewarding good behavior, and getting students used to routines,
The human head is not a black box,
teachers start to create habits in students that make them
cognitive theory compares the human mind
improve their learning. This can give teachers greater control
to a computer, and learning really happens
over the class and empower them to take lead of lessons.
there, and what goes on inside of the black
❖ Application of Behaviorism in classrooms :
box should be considered of interest, not
The teacher can apply the behaviorist theory in his classroom in
ignored, if we are to get a better
different ways. This may include
understanding of learning. Therefore,

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cognitivism focuses on " How information is received, organized, problem-solving need to be explored.
stored, and retrieved by the mind." - Knowledge can be seen as schema or
❖ Founders : symbolic mental constructions.
Ulric Neisser (1967) publishes "Cognitive Psychology", which - Learning is defined as a change in a
marks the official beginning of the cognitive approach. learner’s schemata.
According to Neisser, cognition involves "all processes by which Cognitive teaching strategies focus on
the sensory input is transformed, reduced, elaborated, stored, meaningful learning. They don’t focus on
recovered, and used. memorization or repetition. Instead, tutors
Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development suggests that teach students the fundamentals of lifelong
children move through four different stages of mental learning. Children will learn skills and
development. His theory focuses not only on understanding how strategies that will help them on the way to
children acquire knowledge but also on understanding the better grades in school, including how to
nature of intelligence. Piaget believed that children take an think critically and how to make lasting
active role in the learning process, acting much like little connections between topics.
scientists as they perform experiments, make observations, and The goal is to get them thinking and
learn about the world. As kids interact with the world around applying problem-solving strategies
them, they continually add new knowledge, build upon existing without the use of preparation or steps that
knowledge, and adapt previously held ideas to accommodate lead to an answer.
new information. You want to craft activities that will make

❖ Main Points : your student apply logic, creativity, and

- Cognitivism argues that the “black box” of the mind should close examination on the spot to produce an

be opened and understood. answer. Cognitive learning essentially relies

- The learner is viewed as an information processor or a on five principles: remembering,

computer understanding, applying, evaluating, and

- Mental processes such as thinking, memory, knowing, and creating.

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❖ Application of Cognitivism in classrooms : ❖ Main Points :
- Helping students find new solutions to problems. - Shifts emphasis from teaching to
- Encouraging discussions about what is being taught. learning.
- Helping students explore and understand how ideas are - Individualizes and contextualizes
connected. students’ learning experiences.
- Asking students to justify and explain their thinking. - Helps students develop processes,
- Using visualizations to improve students’ understanding skills, and attitudes.
and recall. - Considers students’ learning styles.
- Focuses on knowledge construction,

Constructivism not reproductions.

- Uses authentic tasks to engage
Constructivism is basically a theory based on observation and
learners.
scientific study about how people learn. It says that people
- Provides for meaningful, problem-
construct their own understanding and knowledge of the world,
based thinking.
through experiencing things and reflecting on those experiences.
- Requires negotiation of meaning.
❖ Founders :
- Requires reflection of prior and new
Jean Piaget articulated mechanisms by which knowledge is
knowledge.
internalized by learners. He suggested that through the process
- Extends students beyond content
of accommodation and assimilation individuals construct new
presented to them.
knowledge from their experiences.
Constructivist teaching is an effective way to
- Assimilation: fitting a new experience into an existing
teach. It encourages active and meaningful
mental structure(schema).
learning and Promotes responsibility and
- Accommodation: revising an existing schema because of a
autonomy. Because constructivist teaching
new experience.
is beneficial in achieving desirable
- Equilibrium - seeking cognitive stability through
educational goals for students, teachers
assimilation and accommodation.

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 Social Constructivism
must develop skills and abilities to empower students and to Emphasizes the importance of social
make them feel competent and significant. interaction; which plays a fundamental role
Students come to the class with an established worldview, for in the process of cognitive development.;
students to change their worldview requires work. Students learn consciousness and cognition are the end
from each other as well as from the teacher. Students learn better product of socialization and social behavior.
by doing, allowing, and creating opportunities for all to promote ❖ Founders :
new ideas. Lev Vygotsky (1896-1934) placed more
❖ Application of Constructivism in classrooms : emphasis on social contribution to the
- Encourage and support student initiative and autonomy. process of development. He focused on the
- Try to use raw data and primary sources. -Create a thinking connections between people and social
and problem-solving environment. interaction.
- Supporting to build student understanding. - Cultures create mental tools which
- Frame tasks using processes such as classifying, analyzing, transform our mental work just like
predicting, and creating. physical tools transform our physical
- Be aware that students’ points of view are windows into their work.
reasoning ❖ Main Points :
- Encourage communication between the teacher and the - Believes that knowledge begins with the
students and also between the students. selection of ideas from everyday
- Encourage students' critical thinking and inquiry by asking experiences.
them thoughtful, open-ended questions, and encourage - Emphasizes the importance of culture
them to ask questions to each other. and context in understanding what
- Provide enough time for students to construct their own occurs in society and constructing
meaning when learning something new. knowledge based on this
understanding.

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- Learning by engaging in real-life situations. - Encourage team working and
- Uses language as a way for social coordination and collaboration.
adaptation. - Promote discussion or debates.
- Uses collaborative learning. - Set up study groups for peer learning.
There are two theories related to constructivism in the field of - Allocate a small proportion of grades
educational psychology. for peer assessment and train students
- VYGOTSKY’S social constructivism. in the process and criteria.
- PIAGET’S cognitive constructivist theory - Show students models of good practice
The implication of Vygotsky’s model for teaching is to establish in essay writing and project work.
opportunities for students to learn through social interactions
with others – with the teacher and peers – in constructing Humanism
knowledge and understanding. In Piaget’s view, students
An approach that studies the whole person
construct knowledge by transforming, organizing, and
and the uniqueness of each individual.
reorganizing previous knowledge and information. In both
Humanism focuses on human beings being
Piaget’s & Vygotsky’s models, teachers are facilitators, not
free to act and control their own destinies. It
directors.
centers on human values, interests,
Piaget thought that there was a connection between biological
capacities, needs, worth, and dignity. It is a
and cognitive development. Vygotsky claimed that knowledge
belief that people can handle their lives and
from social interactions boosts cognitive growth and
actions, and they have the freedom and will
development.
to change their attitudes and behavior.
Distinctions between cognitive and social constructivist
approaches are not always clear–cut.
❖ Application of Social Constructivism in classrooms :

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❖ Founders : - Teachers should be encouraging role
Abraham Maslow was the first to introduce his concept of a models, motivating, guiding, and
hierarchy of needs in his 1943 paper. He examined the human supporting students on their own
experience by looking at the things that are most important to personal journeys.
us: love, hope, faith, spirituality, individuality, and existence. Humanistic education, therefore, focuses on
One of the most crucial aspects of this theory is that to reach the fostering individual potential and personal
most highly developed state of consciousness and realize the growth. it tends to be even more individual-
greatest potential, an individual must discover his true purpose focused than constructivism, with an
in life and pursue it. emphasis placed on choice and autonomy.
Carl Rogers is the co-founder of the Humanistic Psychology Educators adopting a humanist approach
movement and is known for developing the psychotherapy aim to create a classroom environment that
method called client-centered therapy. He agreed with the main helps students feel comfortable and safe so
assumptions of Abraham Maslow. However, Rogers added that they can focus on their learning.
for a person to "grow", they need an environment that provides
them with genuineness, acceptance, and empathy. ❖ Application of humanivism in
❖ Main Points : classrooms :
- People have a natural desire to learn in order to achieve self- - Teachers should focus on helping
actualization. students develop learning skills.
- Learners can be trusted to find their own goals and should Students are responsible for learning
have some options or choices in what they learn. choices, so helping them understand
- Students should set their standards and should evaluate the best ways to learn is key to their
their work. success.
- The school experience should help students to develop
positive relations with their peers.

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- Teachers need to provide motivation and exciting activities
to help students feel engaged about learning.
- Provide choices to students in task/subject selection, as the
choice is central to humanistic learning.
- Teachers create group opportunities to help students
explore, observe, and self-evaluate. They can do this better as
they interact with other students who are learning at the
same time that they are.

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