A Brief History Of Learning Theory

Based on: Laliberte (2005)

A (VERY) BRIEF HISTORY
OF LEARNING THEORY

Learning as a Black Box

So what’s happening inside the box?

A Superficial Review
 Behaviourism
 Cognitivism
 Social Learning Theory
 Social Constructivism
 Multiple Intelligences
 Brain-Based Learning

Behaviourism
 Learning is defined by the outward

expression of new behaviors

 Focuses solely on observable behaviors
 A biological basis for learning
 Learning is context-independent
 Classical & Operant Conditioning
 Reflexes (Pavlov’s Dogs)
 Feedback/Reinforcement (Skinner’s Pigeon Box)

Behaviourism in the Classroom
 Rewards and

punishments
 Responsibility for

student learning rests squarely with the teacher
 Lecture-based,

highly structured

Critiques of Behaviourism
 Does not account for processes taking place

in the mind that cannot be observed
 Advocates passive student learning in a

teacher-centric environment
 One size fits all
 Knowledge itself is given and absolute
 Programmed instruction & ‘teacher-proofing’

Cognitivism
 Grew in response to Behaviourism
 Knowledge is stored cognitively as symbols
 Learning is the process of connecting

symbols in a meaningful & memorable way
 Studies focused on the mental processes

that facilitate symbol connection

Cognitivism (cont)
 Jean Piaget
 Genetic Epistemology
 Assimilation and Accommodation

 Jerome Bruner
 Discovery Learning
 Learner as independent problem-solver

Cognitivism in the Classroom
 Inquiry-oriented

projects
 Opportunities for the

testing of hypotheses  Curiosity

encouraged
 Staged scaffolding

Critiques of Cognitivism
 Like Behaviorism, knowledge itself is

given and absolute ( a ‘realist’ perspective)  Input – Process – Output model is

mechanistic and deterministic
 Does not account enough for individuality
 Little emphasis on affective

characteristics (that is, the emotions)

Social Learning Theory (SLT) – Carolw illcover this  Grew out of Cognitivism
 A.