Learning Theories

Learning theories are usually divided into several paradigms which represent different perspectives on the learning process. Theories within the same paradigm share the same point of view. Currently, the most accepted learning paradigms are behaviorism, cognitivism, constructivism, connectivism and humanism but there are others as well.

Here we will refer to the following learning paradigms and related learning and instructional design theories:

• Behaviorism
• Cognitivism
• Humanism
• Constructivism
• Connectivism
• Other Learning Theories

A more detailed description can be found by clicking on the name of any of given paradigms, and a brief explanation of each of them follows:

• Behaviorism:
  • Time line: Since 1910s
  • What is learning: Development of desired behavior
  • Control locus: Environment
  • Learner role: Passive
  • Learning process: Support of desired or punishing undesired behavior
  • Critics: Ignores learner and his mental processes, depends exclusively on overt behavior
  • Authors: Ivan Pavlov, Burrhus Skinner, John Watson

• Cognitivism:
  • Time line: Since 1960s
  • What is learning: Acquisition of new knowledge and developing adequate mental constructions
  • Learner role: Active and central to the process
  • Learning process: An active process of acquiring and processing new information using prior knowledge and experience
  • Critics: Views knowledge as objective and external to the learner

• Humanism:
  • Time line:

We will also refer to some instructional design principles:

• Cognitive Apprenticeship

Some theories that are not directly orientated on explaining of the learning process, but are also worth mentioning can be found here:

• Gestalt Theory (Wertheimer)
• Theory of Cognitive Development (Piaget)
• Communities of Practice (Lave and Wenger)