Learning TheoriesLearning Theories

Instructional vs. LearningInstructional vs. Learning

Instructional TheoriesInstructional Theories

Instructional theory is best described Instructional theory is best described by the presentation of information to by the presentation of information to promote educational learning.promote educational learning.

There areThere are two main categoriestwo main categories ofof Instructional theory Instructional theory : :

cognitive and behaviorist schools of thought cognitive and behaviorist schools of thought

Leading Theorist

Benjamin Bloom B. F. Skinner

Robert Gagne Paulo Freire

Cognitive TheoristsCognitive Theorists

Benjamin BloomBenjamin Bloom

Creator of Bloom’s Creator of Bloom’s Taxonomy which divided Taxonomy which divided educational objectives into educational objectives into three domains: three domains:

AffectiveAffective PsychomotorPsychomotor cognitivecognitive

Robert GagneRobert Gagne

Creator of the model Nine Creator of the model Nine Events of InstructionEvents of Instruction

Gain attention Gain attention Inform learner of objectives Inform learner of objectives Stimulate recall of prior learning Stimulate recall of prior learning Present stimulus material Present stimulus material Provide learner guidance Provide learner guidance Elicit performance Elicit performance Provide feedback Provide feedback Assess performance Assess performance Enhance retention transfer Enhance retention transfer

BehavioristBehaviorist

B. F. Skinner B. F. Skinner

Major contribution to Major contribution to learning was operant learning was operant conditioningconditioning

Reinforcement of the correct Reinforcement of the correct behavior while ignoring the behavior while ignoring the wrong behaviorwrong behavior

Paulo FreirePaulo Freire

Major contribution to Major contribution to teaching and learning was teaching and learning was critical pedagogycritical pedagogy

A technique created to raise A technique created to raise awareness of how experiences awareness of how experiences are related to society and how are related to society and how they can effect the needed they can effect the needed changes in societychanges in society

Learning TheoriesLearning Theories

Learning theory is best described as Learning theory is best described as a process that brings environmental a process that brings environmental influences and personal experiences influences and personal experiences together.together.

There are three main areas learning fall under:There are three main areas learning fall under:

behaviorism, cognitivism, constructivism behaviorism, cognitivism, constructivism

Leading Theorist

B. F. Skinner Ivan Pavlov

Richard Atkinson Kurt Koffka

Jean Piaget Seymour Papert

BehaviorismBehaviorism

Behaviorism only focuses on the what Behaviorism only focuses on the what can be observed in the way of learning. can be observed in the way of learning.

Learning is viewed in three ways.Learning is viewed in three ways. A change in behaviorA change in behavior

Behavior is created by environmentBehavior is created by environment Principles of contiguity and reinforcementPrinciples of contiguity and reinforcement

Learning is simply acquiring of a new behavior through conditioning.Learning is simply acquiring of a new behavior through conditioning.

Behaviorist TheoristsBehaviorist Theorists

B. F. SkinnerB. F. Skinner

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Ivan Ivan PavlovPavlov

Both developed Both developed theories on different theories on different types conditioning types conditioning learninglearning

Educational practices Educational practices developed from developed from conditioning learning: conditioning learning: direct instruction, direct instruction, applied behavior applied behavior analysis, and curriculum analysis, and curriculum based measurement based measurement

CognitivismCognitivism

Cognitivism is the mental processes Cognitivism is the mental processes in learning.in learning.

There are two approaches.There are two approaches. Memory system is the active processor of Memory system is the active processor of

informationinformation Prior knowledge plays an important rolePrior knowledge plays an important role

Many aspects of cognitivism learning can be discovered in Many aspects of cognitivism learning can be discovered in intelligence, learning, memory as it relates to age and social role intelligence, learning, memory as it relates to age and social role acquisition.acquisition.

Cognitivism TheoristsCognitivism Theorists

Richard AtkinsonRichard Atkinson

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Kurt Kurt KoffkaKoffka

Both developed Both developed theories based on theories based on human memoryhuman memory

Short and long term Short and long term memory as well as memory as well as sensorimotor learning sensorimotor learning plays a role on who we plays a role on who we are and what we learnare and what we learn

ConstructivismConstructivism Constructivism is a process where the learner Constructivism is a process where the learner

actively builds new thoughts based on current actively builds new thoughts based on current and past knowledge and/or experience. and past knowledge and/or experience.

Known under many names.Known under many names. Self-directed learning Self-directed learning Experiential learning Experiential learning Knowledge BuildingKnowledge Building Discovery LearningDiscovery Learning

In this model, the facilitator encourages students to discover In this model, the facilitator encourages students to discover things for themselves and to build on knowledge by trying to solve things for themselves and to build on knowledge by trying to solve problems. problems.

Constructivism TheoristsConstructivism Theorists

Jean PiagetJean Piaget

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Seymour Seymour PapertPapert

Both developed Both developed theories based on prior theories based on prior knowledge and knowledge and experiencesexperiences

It caused a big impact It caused a big impact on teaching practices on teaching practices and how information and how information was provided to was provided to studentsstudents

TheoriesTheories

InstructionalInstructional and learning theories weave in and and learning theories weave in and out like a lattice fence. They over lap as they go out like a lattice fence. They over lap as they go their own way. Instructional theory is the their own way. Instructional theory is the presentation of information. Learning theory is presentation of information. Learning theory is simply the process that brings our influences and simply the process that brings our influences and experiences together. There are three main areas experiences together. There are three main areas behaviorism, cognitivism, and constructivism. behaviorism, cognitivism, and constructivism. Everyone learns in their own unique way. The Everyone learns in their own unique way. The men and women that studied how people learn men and women that studied how people learn only answered the questions of why.only answered the questions of why.