2.1.B Learning Theories of Behaviorism, Cognitivism, and Constructivism Flashcards
How should the foundational theories for learning of behaviorism, cognitivism, and constructivism impact a TD professional?
They should influence how TD professionals facilitate learning across the workplace
What are the three Foundational Theories of Learning?
Behaviorism, Cognitivism, and Constructivism
What is Behaviorism and what does it focus on?
Behaviorism is about predicting and controlling behavior. It focuses on observable behaviors and suggests that learning happens when associations between stimuli and responses are strengthened or weakened.
What is the emphasis of behaviorism?
The emphasis of behaviorism is the “reward” and in discovering the external controls that affect internal processes. The objective is to shape behavior through reinforcement until the learner internalizes the reinforcement and the new behavior becomes rewarding in itself.
B.F. Skinner developed the theory of operant conditioning. What is operant conditioning?
The concept that behavior is shaped by the consequences of reinforcement or punishment.
What are some advantages of behaviorism?
- It establishes objectives that are clear and unmistakable
- It ensures behavioral practice, not just theory
- It works best for helping learners acquire behavioral skills
- It is highly specific is observable (learners know when they have succeeded).
How was behaviorism used to shape programmed learning?
Information to be learned is divided into small steps. As learners respond at each step they are immediately told if the answer is right or wrong. Learners progress through the materials, and their behavior is gradually shaped until the objective is achieved.
What is Cognitivism?
Cognitivism is about how people think and remember, and “tries to understand understanding” (Clark 1999). Cognitivism focuses on mental processes that involve how people perceive, think, remember, learn, solve problems, and attend to one stimulus rather than another.
What are the primary differences between Cognitivist and Behaviorist learning?
While behaviorist learning theory is focused almost exclusively on external events, cognitive learning theories focus on what is happening internally (Sink 2014). Behaviorists identify “thinking” as a behavior; cognitivists, on the other hand, argue that how people think influences their behavior and therefore cannot be a behavior itself.
What is the cognitive approach based on?
The cognitive approach is based on the principle that learning occurs primarily through exposure to logically presented information, and retrieval or rehearsal leads to retention.
What are some of the advantages of cognitivism?
- treats people as adults
- focuses on thinking skills
- emphasizes foundational knowledge
- builds a base of information, concepts, and rules
- provides the rationale upon which action is based (Sink 2014).
What is the focus of Constructivism?
Constructivism focuses on knowledge acquisition through experiences and interactions with the environment.
According to Swiss developmental psychologist Jean Piaget, learners construct knowledge from which two processes?
According to Swiss developmental psychologist Jean Piaget, learners construct knowledge from assimilation and accommodation. When individuals assimilate, they incorporate a new experience into an already existing framework without changing that framework
Assimilation is a part of Piaget’s constructivism theory. What does it mean?
Assimilation is part of Piaget’s constructivism theory to describe how a learner fits an idea into what they already know.
Accommodation is a part of Piaget’s constructivism theory. What does it mean?
Accommodation is part of Piaget’s constructivism theory to describe how a learner must reshape or change what they already know. (This is a more substantial change than assimilation.)
