Learning theory/Cognitivism

Karl Kapp made a great point that an instructor should take pieces from each school of learning, that being cognitivism, behaviorism and constructivism. In the field of education an instructor has to use creativity to deliver information that students can retain and enhance their knowledge base.

For example students are rewarded with good grades if learning is successful(behaviorism) and if learning is not successful the student's learning skill or way of thinking are accessed an adjustments are made to facilitate learning(cognitive).

The behaviorist theory focuses on a stimulus to aid in learning and the cognitive theory focuses on the mental process of how someone learns. An example of a behaviorist focus is for a teacher to ask students questions and the stimuli could be a prize. If the students start to get the answers wrong then the cognitive theory would change the way the questions are delivered to promote learning.
The process of learning pulls together emotional, cognitive, environmental factors and experiences. Learning theory is an attempt to describe how people learn. Behaviorism and cognitivism are two of the frameworks of learning theories.

Behaviorism does not fully consider the thought processes that go on in the learner’s mind. Stimulus and responses as derived from the work of Pavlov, Watson, Thorndike, and Skinner, a Gagne promoted and experimented in the behaviorism.

Cognitivism deviates from behaviorism in that it deals with the internal mental processes of the mind and how these processes could be used to endorse effective learning. Behaviorism breaks tasks into small steps and/or chunks, which are then used to shape the learner’s behavior. In cognitivism the tasks are first analyzed and then broken down into steps. Cognitivism uses the metaphor of the mind as computer: information comes in, is being processed, and leads to certain outcomes.

References

Kapp, K. (2007, January 2). Out and about: Discussion on educational schools of thought. Message posted to http://karlkapp.blogspot.com/2007/01/out-and-about-discussion-on-educational.html

Kerr, B. (2007, January 1). Isms as filters and blinkers. Message posted to http://billkerr2.blogspot.com/2007/01/isms-as-filter-not-blinker.html

Learning Theories Knowledgebase (2010, March). Cognitivism at Learning-Theories.com. Retrieved March 30th, 2010 from http://www.learning-theories.com/cognitivism.html

http://www.about-elearning.com/learning-theories.html

Learning Theory/educational technology

I belief that people learn best depending upon the persons age and life experiences. Adult learners seem to do well by focusing on single concept courses, or single theories that focus on application of the concepts learned. Also according to Zemke (1984), adults seek out learning for self fulfillment usually due to a life changing experience, such as divorce, being fired, moving to a new city and etc.

The purpose of learning theory in educational technology is to influence the technical designers to promote communication and connectivity, therefore increasing interactivity. According to Moore (1984), there are three types of learner interactions such as learner-content, learner-instructor, and learner-learner. In my experience as an online student and instructor students need all three interactions. The content of the course should be clear and include assignments and expectations of the students. The instructor needs to facilitate the class with structure and feedback. Students interact with each other on discussion boards and learn from communications.

http://www.ajde.com/Contents/vol3_2.htm#editorial

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Instructional_technology#Relation_to_learning_theory

Zemke, R., & Zemke, S. (1984). 30 things we know for sure about adult learning.

Innovation Abstracts, 6(8). Retrieved March 15, 2010 from

http://www.hcc.hawaii.edu/intranet/committees/FacDevCom/guidebk/teachtip/adults-e.htm.