Comparing Learning Theories

The challenge throughout the lifespan of education has been to come up with ways that teachers can share information in such a way as to provide the learner with an opportunity to add to their existing knowledge base so that the new information becomes a part of the existing information. There are a variety of learning theories that each suggest methods that can improve results depending on the instructional design and the natural inclinations of the learner. In order to gain a better understanding of how each of the three learning theories listed below can work, click on the link for each one. You will be taken to an example of how that learning theory is used.

Cognitive
Constructivism
Behaviorism

To see a lesson plan and how it can be modified to use different learning theories, click the link below.
Constructivism vs. Behaviorism

Theories in Design
When it comes to using theories of design in education, there are more than a few to choose from. Since teachers are under more pressure than ever to not only develop knowledge in their students, but to also be able to prove that this knowledge was developed, it is critical to use these theories as tools to help develop and adapt material so that is is useful to the student. By combining theories in design and having the ability to modify each step of the process, you can come up with lessons that not only offer new information that can be attached to existing information, but do it in such a way as to allow the student to use their own experiences and personal database of knowledge to come to their own conclusions in such as way as to further their understanding of the new information and allow for progressive attachments to that information in the future.

Keep in mind that the perception of the student is based on their own experience, therefore the personal experience of the student is vital to their understanding of new information and your understanding of the student is vital to your ability to help them process new information. Theories of design allow us to have some level of guidance that allows us to adapt and modify lesson plans to suit the needs of the student. Click on each of the links below to see the strengths and limitations of the theories listed as well as how they might be combined for better understanding for the student.

• Wiggin's theory of backwards design
• Gagne's nine events of instruction
• Teaching for understanding

My Own Instructional Design Methods
When it comes to designing the lesson plan presented in this collection, or any other lesson plans I use a combination of theories while also including my own focus, which is that of motivation. Though my personal method is nameless as of yet, for the purposes of understanding, it will be currently labeled as Foust's Design by Motivation, which can be seen by clicking the link in the name.

This perfectly suits the needs of my learners because it allows me to use their own motivation to help them reach an end goal. I can use their skills and personal knowledge to fine tune the lesson plan in order to serve them better.

No outside resources were used for the construction of this information.

Behaviorism in Education

Behaviorism is the idea that a behavior can be changed based on how it is responded to. Every parent has some limited experience with the method of teaching, though they may not be aware that this is what they are doing. Those who use behaviorism as an approach to teaching will reward behaviors that are desired while punishing behaviors that are not desired. Below is an example of how behaviorism might be used in the classroom.

Mrs. Jones is giving the students a test before recess. The test is timed. Anyone who finishes the test within the given amount of time gets to go immediately to recess. Those who do not complete the test in the given amount of time will use their recess time to complete it. Every student who gets 100% on the test gets a gold star. Students who score less than 80% are given an extra sheet of homework.

Learning Theory of Constructivism

The theory of constructivism uses the approach that students learn best when the knowledge given to them builds upon existing knowledge and involves a variety of methods of learning. This theory assumes that students learn best through their own experiences and thought processes rather than through direct instruction that may not involve their own discoveries. For example, a small child can hear you when you tell them that touching something hot hurts, but they cannot incorporate this information into their own reactions until they actually experience a burn. Below is an example of how a teacher might use constructivism in the classroom.

Mr. Smith is wants to teach his students how body systems work. Currently, he is on the topic of the skin and how it actively works to maintain homeostasis. He gives the students thermometers to take their temperature. He has a hotplate and a pot of water as well as a refrigerator. He asks a student to take the temperature of the water in the pot as well as the water in a glass. All of the temperatures are written down.

Mr. Smith has one student turn on the hotplate under the pot of water. He asks another student to put the glass of water in the freezer. After about 20 minutes, the students shut the hotplate off and measure the temperature of the water again writing it down. Another student takes the water out of the freezer and measures its temperature, again writing it down. The class talks about how and why the temperature changes.

The teacher turns the heat up in the room. The students begin to sweat. After twenty minutes, the students take their own temperatures and write them down. Mr. Smith then walks the students to the cafeteria, where they have gotten permission to go into the walk in cooler. After a few minutes in the walk in cooler, the students take their temperatures again and write them down.

Mr. Smith asks the students to discuss their bodies' responses to the temperature change. He explains that sweating is the bodies way of cooling the body when the temperature outside of it is hot. He further explains that the pores of the skin contract, causing "goosebumps" when the temperature outside the body is cold.

The students discuss the fact that the water changed temperature because it did not have homeostasis or a protective outer layer to assist in homeostasis. They compare this to how their own body reacts.

Cognitive Learning Situation

The theory of cognitive learning is one that relies on the development of education through processes such as memory, perception, and insight. Below is an example of a situation in which the cognitive learning theory is being used. Instructors who use this theory will not focus on one action of the student, but will instead try to look for a pattern.

Rather than simply marking multiplication problems wrong because a student added the numbers rather than multiplying, the teacher will recognize that the student is not seeing that the multiplication sign is different from the plus sign and has its own meaning. The teacher will used the students addition skills to show the student how to multiply, comparing the act to addition, but demonstrating that the sign is similar, but different as well. The teacher will draw the different signs on the board and ask the student to tell her what to do with each sign. Next, the teacher will tell the student what she wants done and ask him to draw the sign for it. Later, she will give him addition problems, followed by multiplication problems alone.