1. Behaviourist, Cognitive and Constructivist Approaches
Theories of Learning
Behaviourist, Cognitive and Constructivist Approaches

2. Behaviourism: Conditioning and Schedules of Reinforcement

3. Behaviourism: Observational Learning
Albert Bandura and neobehavioural approach called “Social Learning Theory”
4 process
Attention
Retention
Reproduction
Motivation

4. Group Work
In your group, think of a simple skill that someone could learn (ie. Juggling, shooting a basketball, riding a bike, making a sandwich, etc.)
Write down how someone would go about learning that task through observation following the 4 steps in the process (attention, retention, reproduction, motivation)
Choose one person in your group to be the model and another person to be the learner/observer and demonstrate to the class how the skill would be learned

5. Application: Imitating Violence Bobo Doll experiment

6. Forms of Reinforcement
Direct reinforcement – receive reinforcement directly
Vicarious reinforcement – see others being reinforced for that behaviour
Self-reinforcement – controlling your own reinforcers (self-management)

7. Should Students be rewarded for learning?
Discussion
Should Students be rewarded for learning?

8. Cognitive Approach
Cognition: thinking and how we think
Learning: learners are active - ARUK (Acquiring, Remembering and Using Knowledge)
The Brain: the brain shapes and is shaped by cognitive processing activities
Knowledge: Knowledge and knowing are outcomes of learning

9. Social Cognitive Theory Reciprocal Determinism

10. Constructivist Approach (Sociocultural Approach)
Learning occurs through social and cultural experiences
VYGOTSKY
“Zones of proximal development” – scaffolding from adults or peers
Culture and cognition is bidirectional – mediated through interaction with others
Student-centered learning
Authentic learning opportunities

11. Sources
Sproule, Wayne. Our Social World: An Introduction to Anthropology, Psychology and Sociology. Toronto: Prentice Hall, 2001.
Educational Psychology and Special Education. Boston: Pearson Learning Solutions, 2012.