Learning Theories

By: Jaime De Leon JrEDTC 3320

Professor Matthew Crosslin

Behavioral and CognitiveBehavioral and Cognitive are two psychological views that suggest or impact how adults learn. Most of the information gathered reflects that either one of these functions affect our way of receiving education or training.

Behavioral TheoryBehaviorism is defined as changing's your ways of doing things because of a past experience. For example if you get burn with the stove you learn by experience that the stove is hot and that you should not touch it again. Most of our daily experience shows us this theory; most of our actions are controlled by prior experience. Learning is the result of changes in our behavior and by experience.

TheoristThere are some people that dedicate their lives and studies to promote different theories. Behavioral theorist believe that human behavior is learned through observation. Other people believe that behavior is displayed and acquired by daily routine.

Ivan P. Pavlov (1849-1936) was a Russian scientist that demonstrated how the psychological behaviorism is. He developed a model to describe how behaviorism affects human learning.

The Ivan Pavlov Way…Most of the information Pavlov considered in his experiments is considered in the psychology books and is required for educational purposes. One of the most interesting experiments Ivan Pavlov used to demonstrate behaviorism was the behavior of dogs and their salivation towards a ringing bell. Although the experiment was done to animals it demonstrated how routine can change our behavior.

Behaviorism TodayEveryone uses the behaviorism theory. Most of us

now rely on the internet or forums where people show you how to program something or install a device. A toddler watching how their brothers play and run is using this theory to learn how to be able to walk; a person that is learning how to ride a bike and relies on someone else is also practicing this theory. Every human being uses this theory in some form or way. With out this form of learning, I believe it would be impossible for human learning to be this efficient. I personally like the fishing example, no one is born with the ability to fish, it is learned. Similar, someway with everything else in live we have to see and then be able to do.

Cognitive TheoryThis theory is basically defined as learning through repetition. Theorist believe this theory replaces the behaviorism theory because they say our “minds works in the same way as a computer.” People that follow this theory believe that we learn from repetition not trial and error.

Cognitive TheoryCognitive theory is believed as a learning experience through active participation. Cognitivists agree that knowledge is first obtain, then it is put into practice, and at the end this understanding directs to outcome(s).

However, cognitivists believed that for a learner to comprehend a material must have an opportunity to participate and learn from such experience and be able to develop results and/or explanation.

One of who agree and contributed in this theory was R. Gagne.

“Learners take in information, store and interpret the material, and then the information is retrieve.”

The R. Gagne’s TheoryGagne’s “conditions of learning”

Gagne agree that human’s capabilities were to be divided into categories such as verbal information, intellectual skills, cognitive strategies, attitudes, and motor skills. He believed that this was essential and effective to be able to comprehend the different ways of the human performance. In addition, Gagne trust two different “conditions of

learning”. These two different conditions are the internal and external.Internal= “previously learned capabilities”, the learner’s knowledge and abilities before instruction.External= the instruction been provided, given to the learner.

Cognitivism

TodayAs mentioned previously, cognitivism is the learning through repetition and thus I believe this is the theory used in the workplace that am employed at. I believe repetition is the instruction used today at my workplace because year after year, a training is given to instruct and remind employees of not using work time and work material such as computers for personal usage such as login in their facebook account, making online payments or personal email. I believe this regulation should be understood from the first time, but, unfortunately many don’t follow it and consequently the cognitive measure is employ to comprehend this rule.

Repetition, making the individual to remember and think before making a decision falls under cognitive approach, the method used at my work place to prevent further misconduct.

Corry, M. (n.d.). Gagne's Theory of Instruction. home.gwu.edu. Retrieved October 20, 2012 from

http://home.gwu.edu/~mcorry/corry1.htmGaget Girl. (n.d). What Is The Behavior/Behavioral Theory? HubPages. Retrieved October 20, 2012 from

http://gagetgirl.hubpages.com/hub/What-Is-The-Bahavior-TheoryOutline of Educational Learning Theories and Theorists. (n.d.).

Educational Learning Theories and Theorists. Retrieved October 20, 2012 from

http://www.teachersgarden.com/professionalresources/learningtheorists.html

References