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 commonly accepted learning paradigms are behaviorism, cognitivism, constructivism, connectivism, social learning and humanism but there are others as well.

Here we will refer to named learning paradigms and their related learning and instructional design theories. A brief overview of the paradigms follows, and more information can be obtained by clicking on each paradigm name.

• Behaviorism:
• Social Learning:
  • Time line: Since 1950s
  • What is learning: Acquisition of new models of behavior or social competences
  • Control locus: Split between both learner and environment (reciprocal determinism)
  • Learner role: Acquisition and interpretation of new knowledge through social interaction
  • Learning process: Prerequisite for meaningful learning is learners engagement in social activities
  • Critics: Offers no insight into complex cognitive processes (later improved by social/cognitive theory)
  • Authors: Julian Rotter, Albert Bandura

• Cognitivism:
• Humanism:
• Constructivism:
• Connectivism:

A brief comparison of main assumptions that underline this paradigms can be used to better understand their differences and similarities.

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

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