A COMPARISON OF THEORIES OF LEARNING Cognitivism and Constructivism Alva M. Hartry Theories of Learning - EDD 8124 December 10, 2009

What is Constructivism? Constructivism is a theory of learning founded on the premise that, by reflecting on our experiences, we build our own understanding of the world we live in. Learners come with knowledge from prior circumstances. Learning, therefore, is simply the process of adjusting our mental models to accommodate new experiences.

What is Congnitivism Cognitive theory is concerned with the development of a person's thought processes. It also looks at how these thought processes influence how we understand and interact with the world. According to Piaget cognitive theory involves key concepts: schema, assimilation , accommodation, and equilibration.

Is one theory better than the other? It is often suggested that no one theory is superior and that a combination of theories may result is superior learning. I believe in constructivism because it allows children to learn based on their own experiences. I believe in cognitivism because people control their own learning because of their thought processes

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