At a glance
- There are five primary educational learning theories: behaviorism, cognitive, constructivism, humanism, and connectivism.
- Additional learning theories include transformative, social, and experiential.
- Understanding learning theories can result in a variety of outcomes, from improving communication between students and teachers to determining what students learn.
Full Answer
What are the different types of educational theories?
Three learning theories:
- Behaviorism
- Cognitive Information Processing (Cognitivism)
- Constructivism
What are the 5 learning theories?
- Behaviorism. ...
- Cognitivism: How cognitive ability is used by people to gain knowledge, insight, and understanding from internal observations.
- Constructivism: The process and study of building knowledge from information gathered through close interaction.
What are the theories of teaching and learning?
social constructivism—as well as lists of learning theories: multiple intelligences, right- and left-brain learning, activ-ity theory, learning styles, Piaget, and communities of learners.Here we do not propose a comprehensive list of all contemporary ideas about learning. Instead, we focus on three big ideas that underlie most of current scholarship
What are some examples of learning theories?
There are 3 main schema’s of learning theories; Behaviorism, Cognitivism and Constructivism. In this article you will find a breakdown of each one and an explanation of the 15 most influential learning theories; from Vygotsky to Piaget and Bloom to Maslow and Bruner. Swimming through treacle!
What are the theories of education?
There are five primary educational learning theories: behaviorism, cognitive, constructivism, humanism, and connectivism. Additional learning theories include transformative, social, and experiential.
What are the 7 learning theories in education?
The major concepts and theories of learning include behaviourist theories, cognitive psychology, constructivism, social constructivism, experiential learning, multiple intelligence, and situated learning theory and community of practice.
What are the three theories of education?
Although there are many different approaches to learning, there are three basic types of learning theory: behaviorist, cognitive constructivist, and social constructivist.
Why are theories important in education?
Educational theory, including theories of learning and theories of instruction, provides explanations about the underlying mechanisms involved in learning and teaching. Such theories tell us why and under what circumstances certain learning strategies and teaching methods work, while others do not.
What is the most popular learning theory?
Cognitivism During the 1960s, cognitivism, which focuses on exploring mental processes such as thinking, memory, knowing, and problem solving, became the dominant learning theory over behaviorism. It argues that the way people learn depends on internal processes, rather than external stimuli.
What is the best theories of learning?
1. Behaviorist Learning Theory. Behaviorism is one of the classic learning theories; it predates cognitivism and most of the other theories we'll explore in this post. Behaviorism suggests that the learner is a 'blank slate' and that all human behavior can be caused or explained by external stimuli.
What are the 4 main theories?
Four Major Sociological Theories. The four main theoretical perspectives are symbolic interactionism theory, social conflict theory, structural-functional theory, and feminist theory.
What are the four types of theories?
Sociologists (Zetterberg, 1965) refer to at least four types of theory: theory as classical literature in sociology, theory as sociological criticism, taxonomic theory, and scientific theory.
What are the 8 theories?
All theories of globalization have been put hereunder in eight categories: liberalism, political realism, Marxism, constructivism, postmodernism, feminism , Trans-formationalism and eclecticism.
What is the main purpose of theory?
Theories are formulated to explain, predict, and understand phenomena and, in many cases, to challenge and extend existing knowledge, within the limits of the critical bounding assumptions. The theoretical framework is the structure that can hold or support a theory of a research study.
How theories affect education?
The importance of learning theories Learning theories are important because they allow teachers to understand how their students learn. Through using different learning methods, teachers can develop more comprehensive learning strategies and help students find success in education.
What is the basic purpose of theory?
A theory not only explains known facts; it also allows scientists to make predictions of what they should observe if a theory is true. Scientific theories are testable. New evidence should be compatible with a theory. If it isn't, the theory is refined or rejected.
What are the 6 learning theories?
In this article, we describe six popular learning theories, e.g. cognitivism, connectivism, heutagogy, social learning, transformative learning theories and Vygotsky's zone of proximal development (ZPD), and their implications for online instruction.
What is the 7th law of teaching?
7. The test and proof of teaching done .. the finishing and fastening process .. must be a reviewing, rethinking, reknowing, reproducing, and applying of the material that has been taught, the knowledge and ideals and arts that have been communicated.
What are the five primary educational learning theories?
behaviorism, cognitive, constructivism, humanism, and connectivism.
What are learning theories?
The goal is to understand objectively how people learn and then develop teaching approaches accordingly.
Why are learning theories important?
“Just as no two people are the same, no two students learn in the exact the same way or at the exact same rate. Effective educators need to be able...
Are there other theories in education?
Transformative learning theory: This theory is particularly relevant to adult learners. It posits that new information can essentially change our w...
How do educational theories influence learning?
Providing students with structure and a comfortable, steady environment. Helping educators, administrators, students and parents align on goals and...
What are learning theories?
Theories in education didn’t begin in earnest until the early 20th century, but curiosity about how humans learn dates back to the ancient Greek philosophers Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. They explored whether knowledge and truth could be found within oneself (rationalism) or through external observation (empiricism).
Why are learning theories important?
Understanding how people learn is a critical step in optimizing the learning process.
How do educational theories influence learning?
Educational theories influence learning in a variety of ways. For teachers, learning theory examples can impact their approach to instruction and classroom management. Finding the right approach (even if it’s combining two or more learning theories) can make the difference between an effective and inspiring classroom experience and an ineffective one.
What is transformative learning theory?
Transformative learning theory: This theory is particularly relevant to adult learners. It posits that new information can essentially change our worldviews when our life experience and knowledge are paired with critical reflection.
How does understanding learning theories help students?
Understanding learning theories can result in a variety of outcomes, from improving communication between students and teachers to determining what students learn.
What is social learning theory?
Social learning theory: This theory incorporates some of the tacit tenets of peer pressure. Specifically, students observe other students and model their own behavior accordingly. Sometimes it’s to emulate peers; other times it’s to distinguish themselves from peers. Harnessing the power of this theory involves getting students’ attention, focusing on how students can retain information, identifying when it’s appropriate to reproduce a previous behavior, and determining students’ motivation.
What is helping outsiders?
Helping outsiders (colleges, testing firms, etc.) determine what kind of education you had or are receiving.
What are the three theories of education?
Today, sociologists and educators debate the function of education. Three main theories represent their views: the functionalist theory, the conflict theory, and the symbolic interactionist theory.
What is functionalist theory?
The functionalist theory focuses on the ways that universal education serves the needs of society. Functionalists first see education in its manifest role: conveying basic knowledge and skills to the next generation. Durkheim (the founder of functionalist theory) identified the latent role of education as one of socializing people ...
What are the latent roles of functionalists in education?
Functionalists point to other latent roles of education such as transmission of core values and social control. The core values in American education reflect those characteristics that support the political and economic systems that originally fueled education.
Why do functionalists limit their children's options for college?
Functionalists point to the ironic dual role of education in both preserving and changing culture.
What is symbolic interaction theory?
The symbolic interactionist theory. Symbolic interactionists limit their analysis of education to what they directly observe happening in the classroom. They focus on how teacher expectations influence student performance, perceptions, and attitudes.
What is the purpose of conflict theory?
The conflict theory. Conflict theory sees the purpose of education as maintaining social inequality and preserving the power of those who dominate society. Conflict theorists examine the same functions of education as functionalists. Functionalists see education as a beneficial contribution to an ordered society; however, ...
What is the most important value permeating the American classroom?
The most important value permeating the American classroom is individualism —the ideology that advocates the liberty rights, or independent action, of the individual.
What is the theory of learning that teaches students to learn through reading?
2. Cognitivism is a learning theory developed by Jean Piaget in which a child develops cognitive pathways in understanding and physical response to experiences. In this theory, students learn most effectively through reading text and lecture instruction. Paradigms of Learning. Educational Theories of Learning. 3.
What is connectivism theory?
Connectivism is a relatively new learning theory, developed and based upon the idea that people process information by forming connections. This theory has developed with the digital and technology age, adapting to advances in these arenas.
What are the five theories of learning?
There are 5 overarching paradigms of educational learning theories; behaviorism, cognitivism, constructivism, design/brain-based, humanism and 21st Century skills.
What is the view of behaviorism?
1. Behaviorism is a view in which behavior can be explained by external factors and behavioral conditioning can be used as a universal learning process. In behaviorism, the ideas of positive and negative reinforcement are effective tools of learning and behavior modification, as well as a punishment and reward system. Behaviorism Overview.
What is the idea that people are responsible for creating their own understanding of the world?
Constructivism is the idea that people are responsible in creating their own understanding of the world and using what they know based on previous experiences in the process of linking new information to these experiences. People use these experiences and new information to construct their own meaning. Constructivism.
Which theory of learning focuses on the individual as the subject and asserts that learning is a natural process that helps?
People use these experiences and new information to construct their own meaning. Constructivism. Influential Theories of Learning. 4. Humanism focuses on the individual as the subject and asserts that learning is a natural process that helps a person reach self-actualization.
What Can You Do With an Master’s in Education Theory?
It is most common for professionals who want to work in research settings like universities or non-profit organizations, or in a legislative environment where they make policies to pursue this degree. You can also pursue positions in school administration, consulting or in areas like curriculum development.
What are some theories of education?
Some of the most popular theories that are taught in formal degree programs include: instructional theory, cognitive theory, behaviorism, curriculum theory, educational philosophy, educational anthropology and more. Each of these will provide you with different explanations that researchers believe apply in the classroom.
What are some theories that are taught in formal education?
Some of the most popular theories that are taught in formal degree programs include: instructional theory, cognitive theory, behaviorism, curriculum theory, educational philosophy, educational anthropology and more.
What is educational theory?
Educational Theory is a study area that seeks to understand how people learn, how people apply what they have learned, and how to improve the efficiency of educational programs. When you major in Education Policy and Theory, you will study a wide range of different topics and disciplines that are all centered around the sociology of education, ...
Why is formal education unique?
Formal degrees in this area of study is unique, because of all of the different disciplines and the different perspectives that can be found in each of them. The best programs will integrate educational studies, sociology, social science, and humanistic curriculum so that all students have a deep understanding for the content.
Why do we need to study educational theory?
There is always a need for motivated and driven professionals who make schools more accountable. If you would like to pursue a fulfilling career , you may want to consider studying educational theory so that you can be the catalyst for change .
What are Learning Theories?
Learning theories explain how the learning process happens. They set out a clear collection of principles that teachers can use for helping students to learn. A learning theory can be used to underpin a curriculum or lesson and guide a teacher’s instructional strategy. The most common learning theories are categorized as: cognitive, behavioral, motivational, and psychoanalytic.
What is the difference between constructivist and social constructivist theory?
The cognitive constructivist learning theory believes in the fundamental principles of a constructivist learning theory, but disagrees with social constructivists on the role of social interaction in learning. Instead, cognitive constructivists focus entirely on the inner mind and how it develops over time. While social constructivists might believe more in ‘nurture’ for learning, cognitive constructivist believe more in the role of ‘nature’ for learning.
What is constructivist learning theory?
Whereas a constructivist believes a student needs to develop genuine understanding through trial, error and logic, a behaviorist believes in learning through transmission of new information from an educator to a student.
Which constructivist believes in nature?
While social constructivists might believe more in ‘nurture’ for learning, cognitive constructivist believe more in the role of ‘nature’ for learning. Cognitive constructivists such as Jean Piaget, for example, call learners ‘lone scientists’. They can go out into the world and learn simply through trial-and-error.
What is cognitive constructivism?
A cognitive constructivist learning theory generally involves setting up scientific and discovery learning experiments and letting students ‘figure it out themselves’. Maria Montessori, for example, believes in giving students the skills to learn and a rich learning environment.
What is the purpose of Kolberg's stage theory?
Kolberg’s stage theory was inspired by Piaget’s learning theory. He developed his stages of learning theory to explain how children’s morality develops over time. Like Jean Piaget, Kolberg believed children learned certain tasks and abilities only once their mind had developed enough to cognitively handle it.
What is classical conditioning?
The theory shows that we learn to associate two things if we experience them as usually being proximal to one another. In other words, we associate one thing with another if they usually come as a pair.
What is scaffolding in Vygotsky's work?
Scaffolding is not a term that Vygotsky actually used but it's a concept that developed based on his work. When you scaffold a student, you give them support to complete a task that they can't quite do on their own. For example, at first, students need to be walked through every step of long division.
How do you decide the level at which to instruct your students?
How do you decide the level at which to instruct your students? Vygotsky says to determine their Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD). This means the skills that are just a little bit beyond their reach. When you are working with a small reading group, don't pick books that kids can read perfectly. Pick ones that are just a little bit challenging, that students will need some support to read. Eventually a student's ZPD bumps up higher because they have mastered the skills you were supporting them with.
What did Piaget believe?
Piaget was a constructivist which means he believed that kids learn by manipulating, modifying, and otherwise working with concepts. They construct their own learning rather than just being told something. Piaget worked with the idea that the things people know are organized into schemas.
What did Gardner find about intelligence?
Gardner found that people have more than one way of processing information and that a typical IQ score doesn't completely measure intelligence . He created the theory of Multiple Intelligences. In the classroom we can engage multiple intelligences by singing educational songs, allowing students to work through concepts verbally, through art, through writing, with partners, and through movement.
What is Bloom's taxonomy?
It's a hierarchy of intellectual behaviors. The lowest level is remembering facts. The highest level is using your knowledge to create something new. With the new Common Core standards we've heard a lot about increasing rigor for our students. One way to do this is to make sure we're involving our students in higher order thinking activities at the top of Bloom's Taxonomy, not just in memorizing facts.
What is the heart of behaviorism?
This is the heart of behaviorism. It's the idea that praise and rewards positively reinforce a behavior and encourage kids to continue with it. Punishments discourage students from a behavior. Beyond following rules, there are learning actions we can reinforce.
Can scaffolding be reduced?
Gradually the scaffolding can be reduced. Maybe they just need a couple of reminders at tricky spots. Eventually the scaffolding can be removed because the student can complete the task on their own. Read also: Vygotsky's Sociocultural Learning Theory.
