2. Learning Theories Mary Knestrick Section 1357

3. Behaviorism oIt has often been said that, “Behave is what organisms do.” oBehaviorism- a term first used by John Watson, is a theory of animal and human learning that only focuses on objectively observable behaviors and discounts mental activities.

4. Behaviorism oIn other words, if you are a behavior theorist, you define learning as nothing more than the acquisition of new behavior. oSome famous behavior theorists are: Ivan Pavlov, John Watson, and B.F. Skinner. For more information on behaviorism go to: Funderstanding- Behaviorism. Funderstanding- Behaviorism

5. Cognitivism

6. oCognition is the “primary source of study” oCognitivism- a theoretical approach to understanding the mind, which argues that mental function can be understood by quantitative, positivist and scientific methods, and that such functions can be described as information processing models. oFor information on Cognitivism go to: Wikipedia Online Encyclopedia

7. Constructivism oConstructivism is a philosophy of learning founded on the premise that, by reflecting on our experiences, we construct our own understanding of the world we live in. oEach of us generates our own "rules" and "mental models," which we use to make sense of our experiences. oLearning, therefore, is simply the process of adjusting our mental models to accommodate new experiences. oFor information on Constructivism go to: Funderstanding- Constructivism

8. oThere are two schools of thought studied by Constructivists: Cognitive Constructivism and Socio-Cultural Constructivism.

9. How people learn vs. Use of Technology BehaviorismCognitivismConstructivism How people learn Learning is accomplished by doing, experience, trial and error. Learning is accomplished by cognitive processes such as: info. processing, symbol manipulation, and knowledge construction. Learning is accomplished by problem solving, metacognition, and critical thinking. How technology can be used o Teaching machines o Instructional films and TV o Instructional design o Direct Instruction o Simulations o Artificial intelligence o Expert systems o Intelligent tutorial systems (CMI) o Virtual reality and environments o A tool for the learner o An integral part of the cognitive activity o Programming (LOGO) o Mindtools