Learning theories and online learning

Claire Major, 2013

What is learning?

Learning is a process.

The process of learning leads to change.

A change to what?

It depends….

Theories of learning

Learning changes an individual.

Psychological theories of learning.

• Behaviorism

• Cognitivism

• Constructivism

Behaviorism

Learning is a change to behavior.

Famous behaviorists include

Skinner and Pavlov

Classical conditioning

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Operant conditioning

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Bandura

Social learning theory

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According to behaviorists

Acquiring knowledge

Stimulus and response

Rewards and punishments

Cognitivistm

Learning is a change to the way that the brain processes.

Famous cognitivists include

WertheimerGestalt psychology

Atkinson; Shiffrin

Information processing theory

AndersonSchema theory

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Cognitivists believe that

Changing mental processes

Duplication of knowledge constructs of knower

Existing schemata and prior experiences

Constructivsm

Learning is a process in which the learner constructs or

builds new ideas or concepts.

Learning is a personal endeavor.

Famous constructivists include…

Piaget

Cognitive constructivism

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Vygotsky

Social constructivism

Pappert

Social constructionism

According to constructivists

Constructing new knowledge (e.g. a new internal reality)

Experience of an individual acting and engaging with others

Prior experiences

Cool theories!

But some people…

THINK

New ideas

• Sociology

• Anthropology

• Philosophy

• Education

Social/relational learning theories

Learning is a change in connections, whether social, relational, or

technological.

Learning does not belong to an individual

Hutchings, Perry

Distributed learning theory

(distributed cognition)

Famous social/relational learning theorists include

Classical cognition vs. distributed cognition

http://mindmaps.wikispaces.com/dcog

Lave; Wenger; Seely Brown

Situated learning theory

(situated cognitition)

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Siemens; Downes

Connectivism(a bit like connected

cognition???)

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According to these theorists:

A group of individuals building a networked intelligence

Resources are shared within a community

Cultural context

Online learning?

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Knowledge resides amongst individuals and technologies.

interact with each other and with technology.

engage in joint activity and have shared tools.

Employ social interactions with technology.

think and learn with objects and tools.

They construct a common language and shared

understanding.

construct a network of both human and non-human actors/

Active agents

Is it important?

Beliefs drive actions…

conscious or subconscious.

Ask:

Who am I?

What do I believe?

What is the role of technology?

Make informed decisions.

Create better learning environments and activities.

Help students learn.

The point.

NOTES:

Forthcoming

Suggestions?

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