1. Cognitive vs. Behavioral
Learning Theories
Cognitive vs. Behavioral
Brenda Lee Galvan

2. Cognitive Theorist
Robert Gagné
(1916 – 2002)

3. Robert Gagné Cognitive Theorist
An American educational psychologist
Best known for his book entitled “Condition of Learning”
His work is sometimes known as “Gagné Assumptions”
Received a A.B. at Yale University through a scholarship
1962 joined American Institutes Research and wrote his first book, “The Conditions of Learning”
Retired in 1993 from Florida State University

4. Robert Gagné Cognitive Theorist
The Gagné Assumption consists of:
5 categories of learning
Verbal information
Intellectual skills
Cognitive strategies
Motor skills
Attitude

5. Robert Gagné Cognitive Theorist
9 Events of Instruction
Gaining attention – retain the learners interest
Informing learners of objectives – discuss the learning materials
Stimulating recall of prior learning – ask questions to gain information about learner
Presenting the stimulus – teaching the objectives
Providing learning guidance – assist the learner with learning activities

6. Robert Gagné Cognitive Theorist
9 Events of Instruction (cont.)
Eliciting performance – learner should complete an activity on the lesson
Providing feedback – inform learner on how they performed on activity
Assessing performance – evaluating the learner on complete objectives
Enhancing retention and transfer – provide the learner with activities to help them understand the objectives

7. Robert Gagné Cognitive Theorist
8 Conditions of learning
Signal learning – learner makes a response to a signal
Stimulus-response learning – specific response by the learner
Chaining – a set of responses in a sequential order
Verbal association – making connections verbally

8. Robert Gagné Cognitive Theorist
8 Conditions of learning (cont.)
Discrimination learning – different response to stimuli that are similar
Concept learning – ability to make a response to different incentives
Rule learning – a group of concepts to show a specific behavior
Problem solving – the learner will use all rules to solve problem

9. Behavioral Theorist
B.F. Skinner
(1904 – 1990)

10. B.F. Skinner Behavioral Theorist Education
Bachelor’s in English literature from Hamilton College in 1926
Ph.D. from Harvard University in 1931
In 1936 had his first teaching job at the University of Minnesota
In 1946 became chairman of the psychology department at Indiana University
In 1948 he was a contracted professor at Harvard University and remained there until his retirement

11. B.F. Skinner Accomplishments Behavioral Theorist
Invented the Operant Conditioning Chamber (aka Skinner box)
Better known for his contraption of radical behavior
He was granted many awards for his many achievements
Received the Citation for Outstanding Lifetime Contribution to Psychology by the American Psychological Association eight days before his passing

12. B.F. Skinner Operant Conditioning Theory Behavioral Theorist
Behavior is being determined through positive or negative reinforcement
His educational goal was to make sure learners had survival skills for themselves and society
The teachers role is to emphasize on these skills and help terminate behavior that is unsatisfactory

13. Robert Gagné- Cognitive Theorist
Impact on Education
Gagné Assumption
It covers all phases of learning through intellectual skills in the classroom
Instructor is encourage to master every step with the learner before proceeding with the next

14. B.F. Skinner - Behavioral Theorist
Impact on Education
Operant Conditioning Theory
Reinforcements are used to guide a students success in behavior
Students can have a positive or negative reaction to learning concepts

15. Summary Cognitive vs. Behavioral
The Gagné Assumption on cognitive learning consists of “The Conditions of Learning”
Used in higher learning environments, his learning style recognizes different approaches of teaching
Skinner’s Operant Condition is based on the behavioral learning in education
Rewarding students with an incentive for doing a job well done is reinforced whether it was a positive or negative behavior

16. Work Cited
B.F. Skinner (2008). In New World Encyclopedia. Retrieved June 18, 2013 from Brown, A., & Green, T. (2011). The Essentials of Instructional Design. (2nd ed., Vol. ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson Education. Skinner, B.F. (1974). About Behaviorism. New York, NY: Random House, Inc. Specht, P. (2008). Robert Gagné. Retrieved June 16, 2013 from Swenson, C. (2013). Theories of Learning in Educational Psychology. Retrieved June 19, 2013 from Vargas, J. (2013). B.F. Skinner Foundation: Better behavioral science for a more humane world. Retrieved June 16, 2013 from Wikipedia (2013). Retrieved June 16, 2013 from