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Theories of Learning Behaviorism and Cognitivism. By Christie Herrera # 0197993 EDTC 3320 Fall 2013. Introduction.
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Theories of LearningBehaviorism and Cognitivism By Christie Herrera #0197993 EDTC 3320 Fall 2013
Introduction There are many different types of learning theories that are used to help guide individuals through the teaching and or learning process. A learning theory is an attempt to explain how people learn and think. The two learning theories this presentation will focus on is the conditions of behaviorism and cognitivism learning theories.
Behaviorism Behaviorism is a learning theory that believes that behaviors and learning are influenced through positive and negative reinforcements. Behavior that is seen is measured. The behaviorists are not concerned with internal processes. Courses and content are controlled by the stimuli in the external environment, not by the individual learner. Examples: Positive reinforcements- praise, money, stickers, and gifts. Negative reinforcement- scolding, loss of privileges, and punishment.
Burrhus Fredric Skinner Behaviorist Theorist (1904-1990) Education: B.F. Skinner received a B.A. in English Literature in 1926 from Hamilton College. He later went on to receive his M.A. and Ph.D. in Psychology from Harvard. Career: He began teaching at the University of Indiana in 1945. He later moved to Harvard University and taught there the remained of his life. Achievements: Skinner earned numerous achievements in his life time. 1966 Edward Lee Thorndike Award, American Psychological Association 1968 - National Medal of Science from President Lyndon B. Johnson 1971 - Gold Medal of the American Psychological Foundation 1972 - Human of the Year Award 1990 - Citation for Outstanding Lifetime Contribution to Psychology
Skinner’s Work B.F. Skinner was known to be one of the most influential American psychologists. He developed the Operant Conditioning theory. He was interested in studying response patterns when reward and punishment stimuli were present. Skinner often experimented and studied animal behavior. His rat experiment proved that behavior could be changed with the use of positive and negative reinforcements.
Cognitivism Cognitivism is the learning theory that believes we create our own learning by reflecting on our own past experiences and the world around us. Learning occurs through observation, interpretation, processing, and personalizing info.
Jean Williams Fritz Piaget Cognitive Theorist (1896-1980) Education: Ph.D. in Zoology from University of Neuchâtel in 1918. Career: Piaget moved to Paris and began to work with Theodore Simon and Alfred Binet in a Laboratory. Piaget would review the reasoning tests Simon designed. Achievements: He received the Erasmus Prize in 1972 and the Balzan Prize in 1978.
Piaget’s Work • Piaget created the constructivist theory of knowing. • He believed that children inherit cognitive processes from adults. • He created four stages of development: Sensorimotor, Preoperational, Concrete Operational, and Formal Operational stages.
Behaviorism and Adult Learning In a Behaviorist classroom, the instruction is teacher centered. The goal is to teach skills that can be used later. Class lectures are followed by practice drills. Behaviorists believe that the learning environment influences behaviors, it is the educators responsibility to construct an environment that will create expected results.
Behaviorism and Adult Learning • The learning that takes place is passive • Students learn the correct responses • Learning requires external rewards • Knowledge is remembering information • Teacher must direct the learning process • Understanding is seeing patterns • Applications require “transfer of training” which requires “common elements” among problems. Examples: Drills, Simulations, games, tutorials, and integrated learning systems.
Cognitivism and Adult Learning A Cognitivist classroom should be whole, authentic, and real. Learning is active in this theory. The learners should be able to construct knowledge through their own experiences. Instruction focuses more on learning meaningful context instead of direct teaching of specific skills. Technology is useful and expands the learners concept.
Cognitive and Adult Learning • The learning that occurs is active. • Students explore possible patterns and choose between them. • Learning is intrinsically rewarding. • Knowledge is acquiring new information. • Applications require learners to see relationships among problems. • Students direct their own learning. The can not be “told” by the teacher. Examples: Anchored instruction, symbol pads, micro words, information banks, simulation kits, and whole language.
Conclusion Learning theories were developed to help understand how people think and act. Learning can be gaining knowledge, skills, and developing an understanding. Piaget was a cognitivist who believed that we create our own learning by reflecting on our own past experiences and the world around us. An educator should use effective teaching methods that promote a positive learning environment where learners are successful.
