Theory

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Learning theory:-         Behaviorism -         Cognitivism-         Constructivism-         Humanism-         Post - modern theories (andragogy, social learning, multi media learning…)  learning is a process that brings together cognitive, emotional, and environmental influences and experiences for acquiring, enhancing, or making changes in one's knowledge, skills, values, and world views (Illeris,2000; Ormorod, 1995).

Cognitivism: The cognitivist paradigm essentially argues that the “black box” of the mind should be opened and understood. The learner is viewed as an information processor (like a computer).

Cognitivists consider how human memory works to promote learning. For example, the physiological processes of sorting and encoding information and events into short term memory and long term memory are important to educators working under the cognitive theory.

Originators and important contributors: Merrill -Component Display Theory (CDT), Reigeluth (Elaboration Theory), Gagne, Briggs, Wager, Bruner (moving toward cognitive constructivism), Schank (scripts), Scandura (structural learning)

Keywords: Schema, schemata, information processing, symbol manipulation, information mapping, mental models

Social learning: Bandura’s Social Learning Theory posits that people learn from one another, via observation, imitation, and modeling. The theory has often been called a bridge between behaviorist and cognitive learning theories because it encompasses attention, memory, and motivation.Originator: Albert BanduraKey Terms: Modeling, reciprocal determinism

Multimedia Learning: (Richard Mayer)
Mayer delineates three views of “multimedia” for learning. 1) in terms of the medium of delivery, 2) in terms of its presentation modes, its re-presentational formats, and 3) in terms of the sensory modalities used to process the material.The focus on the first view, the delivery media, is obviously “technology-centered” rather than human-centered (Mayer also brings in reference to Donald Norman’s concern for human-centered design of technology aids to ‘make us smarter’).The focus of the latter two views is human- or “learner-centered”. Concern for the presentation modes and sensory modalities is based in cognitive theory on how people learn and this is what drives the design. Also, these two views take a constructivist learning ideology, i.e. that knowledge is actively constructed rather than transmitted and passively acquired. Optimal learning is not just knowledge acquisition then, or just a matter of retention, but it is retention with knowledge transfer- the ability to apply the knowledge.Mayer’s cognitive theory specifically ascribes to a “Dual Channel Assumption” which basically assumes that humans have separate information processing channels for verbal and pictorial information, or (to put it in terms of the sensory modalities) for auditory and visual stimulus.Mayer also brings up theory of cognitive load- that understanding how humans learn also includes understanding our cognitive limitations or the optimal load for processing information, whether images or text or combinations of both.With Multimedia Learning theory, Mayer is proposing that multimedia can be used to design material that optimizes learning, and that an optimal condition for learning (information processing) is a combination of auditory and visual, words and images, presented to minimize extraneous cognitive load and maximize learning in terms of retention and transfer of knowledge.

Conclusion: The learning theory that I believe works is the integrating of all theories but the most important of them are cognitivism, social learning and multi media lerning.

 

Cognitivism in compare with behaviorism: The cognitivist assumes that learning occurs within the learner, at a cognitive level, and may or may not involve behavior. According to Bruner, information equals learning so outward appearances to that effect are merely communications illuminating the result of learning rather than learning itself. Like the behaviorist, the cognitivist seeks to explain how the environment modifies human behavior. Unlike the behaviorist however, the cognitivist assumes that something else is going on in what is called the information processing system (Driscoll, 1994, p.68). The mind is the locale of the learning process and that is the major area of interest.

 

Technologies enhance learning by:

1.      Encourages contact between students and faculty

2.      Develops cooperation among student

3.      Encourage active learning

4.      Gives prompt feedback

5.      Emphasize time on task

6.      Communicates high expectation

7.      Respects diverse talents and ways of learning