THE 5 LEARNING THEORIES Today I will talk about
the 5 Learning Theories, how they work and how they differ between each other.
No two students are alike, and the way every person learns will vary.
Our brains are all unique, and our experiences all contribute to the different ways we learn.
So let’s see what these 5 theories are. To better explain them I will use some simple and practical
examples, that in my opinion are always the best way to clearly explain complex concepts.
Theory #1: Behaviorism Behaviorist Learning Theory
(or Behaviorism) utilizes key ideas from the work of Burrhus Frederic Skinner, an American
psychologist, who theorized that learning occurs through a series of rewards or punishments.
While Skinner believed that all learning could occur this way, the Behaviorist Theory
is most commonly utilized in classrooms today as a tool for behavior management.
According to Skinner, rewards increase the likelihood that behaviors will be repeated, while
punishments decrease the likelihood of repetition. He also theorized that rewards and punishments
could be either positive or negative in nature. What does this mean? When we give or add something
to the environment, the interaction is positive; when we take something away, the interaction is
negative. So, for example, removing an undesirable activity from the agenda might be a negative
reward, and adding an undesirable activity to it might be a positive punishment. Let’s see some
example to better understand this concepts: • First example: In Ms. Green’s first grade
classroom, she is working with one of her students, Jenny, to help her with some
challenging attention-span issues. She gives her a candy whenever she sees her focused on a task.
(This is an example of positive reward) • Second example: In Mr. Red’s third grade
classroom, he quietly reminds a student to keep all four legs of his chair on the floor. (This
is an example of positive punishment – yes, verbal praise & reminders qualify
as adding something to the environment!) • Third example: To increase the number of
students who turn in their homework each day, Ms. Red announces that if
the class has 100% completion on today’s assignment, they won’t have homework on
Friday. (This is an example of negative reward) • Fourth example: Students in Mrs. Johnson’s art
class are having trouble sharing the supplies. Mrs. Johnson writes the word ART on the board,
and each time students have a disagreement over supplies, she erases a letter. If the word is
erased completely, students will have to use pencil to complete their project for the day.
(This is an example of negative punishment)
Theory #2: Cognitivism
Cognitive Learning Theory is largely based on the work of Jean Piaget,
who rejected the idea that learners are passive and simply react to stimuli in the environment.
Instead of focusing solely on observable behavior, Cognitive Theory seeks to explain
how the mind works during the learning process. Like a computer, the mind takes in information,
processes that information, then uses that information to produce learning outcomes.
Piaget’s 4 Stages of Development indicate the learner’s ability to understand abstract,
complex concepts. A few simple examples: • First example: Ms. Smith, a kindergarten
teacher, works with students to verbally communicate their feelings. She knows that
at this age, they are naturally egocentric and struggle to see things from others’ perspectives.
• Second example: To help students memorize the Periodic Table, Ms. Williams co-creates
various mnemonic devices with her class. • Third example: Ms. Jones uses a graphic
organizer in order to help students write paragraphs with appropriate structure.
• Fourth example: At the start of every lesson, Mr. Davis asks questions to activate the prior
knowledge of his students. He knows this will help to link the new learning concepts to previously
retained ideas, increasing the likelihood that the new learning will be remembered.
Theory #3: Constructivism Constructivists see the learner as a constructor
of knowledge. New learning is shaped by schemas, which the learner brings to the learning process.
Lev Vygotsky is an important founder of Constructivist Learning Theory.
Vygotsky believed that learning is a collaborative process, and that social
interaction is fundamental for cognitive development. According to Vygotsky, students
learn best when working collaboratively with those whose proficiency level is higher than their own,
allowing them to complete tasks they are not yet able to do independently. Vygotsky identified
these concepts as the More Knowledgeable Other and the Zone of Proximal Development.
Constructivist classrooms are student-centered, with the teacher acting as the facilitator.
As usual, let’s see some examples: • First example: Ms. Rodriguez intentionally
pairs students performing on or above grade level with students performing below grade level,
inviting them to turn and talk about their learning throughout a lesson.
• Second example: Mrs. Wilson uses collaborative learning to facilitate
engagement with specific learning targets, ensuring heterogeneous student groupings.
• Third example: Mr. Brown uses Problem-Based Learning to engage her students in solving real
world problems, meeting several learning targets while giving students autonomy to make decisions.
He encourages students to work with peers who have different strengths than their own.
Theory #4: Humanism Humanist Learning Theory approaches
learning as a way to fulfill an individual’s potential rather than meeting specific learning
targets. Maslow’s research on the Hierarchy of Needs is a major concept within this theory,
as it focuses on the whole person, specifically the cognitive and affective needs of the learner.
The theory holds that self-actualization is the ultimate goal of each individual.
Learners are trusted to determine their own goals, set standards, and evaluate their own work. Thus,
students are at the center of the Humanist classroom. Teachers are facilitators and coaches,
recognizing the unique needs of each student and supporting their academic and social development.
Examples: • First scenario: Ms. Anderson begins
each day with a morning meeting to check in on her students’ emotional well-being and proactively
teach them specific coping skills & strategies. • Second scenario: Mr. Thomas, an 8th grade
science teacher, provides his students a menu of assessment options to illustrate their mastery
of learning targets for the unit. • Third scenario: Ms. Roberts,
a 2nd grade teacher, invites each student to set their
reading goal for the quarter. • Fourth scenario: Ms. Fox,
the school’s counselor, partners with local organizations to fill backpacks with food
that students can take home to ensure they have food to eat over the weekend.
Teoria #5: Connectivism Connectivism is one of the newest educational
learning theories. It focuses on the idea that people learn and grow when they form connections.
This can be connections with each other, or connections with their roles and obligations
in their life. Hobbies, goals, and people can all be connections that influence learning.
Teachers can utilize connectivism in their classroom to help students make connections
to things that excite them, helping them learn. Teachers can use digital media to make good,
positive connections to learning. They can help create connections and relationships
with their students and with their peer groups to help students feel motivated about learning.
As you can see, today’s classrooms do not solely utilize one learning theory over another, but
instead incorporate multiple theories throughout the learning experience. Each theory has strengths
and limitations, especially considering the realities of education in the 21st century.
Educators must walk the narrow line between creating a student-centered classroom
and meeting rigorous learning standards. Each of these theories has its strengths
and its weaknesses – which one of these 5 theories is your favorite?
If you wish, leave a comment. If there is enough interest for one of these 5 theories I might make
a more in-depth video about it in future. If you liked this video, don’t miss the
video “How to Study Faster And More Effectively With The Feynman Technique”
that you can find on this channel. I invite you to subscribe to the channel and activate
the notification bell if you haven’t done so already and wish you a wonderful rest of the day!