As a future educator, knowing and mastering every learning theory there is like at the back of our hand is very crucial as this will help us in building a characterized educator with vast knowledge. It is not an alienated thinking for educators that our students come from different backgrounds and that have somehow caused the students’ level of proficiency and their way of learning. We need to assess our students’ needs and evaluate their way of learning in order to make sure that every student goes through a meaningful learning process. In education, there are four different learning theories which are behaviourism, constructivism, cognitivism and connectivism. First and foremost is Behaviourism. Behaviourism assumes that a learner is essentially passive and they respond to environmental stimuli. This theory believes that a learner starts out with a clean slate, and behaviour is shaped by positive and negative reinforcement. Reinforcement, positive or negative, increases the possibility of an event to happen again whereas punishment, both positive and negative, decreases the possibility of an event from happening again. An instance of behaviourism; is when a teacher rewards their class or certain students with a party or special treat at the end of the week for having a good behavior throughout the week. The same concept applies with punishment. The teacher is obliged to take away certain privileges if the students misbehave. Next is constructivism. Constructivism means that knowledge is not given, but it is constructed. Constructivists view learning as the result of mental construction. In constructivism learning theory, learning takes place when new information is built into and added onto an individual’s current structure of knowledge, understanding and skills. As quoted by Alan Prichard; “we learn best when we actively construct our own understanding.” Constructivism is student-centered as learners are known to be active learners. Cognitivism is a learning theory that focuses on the processes involved in learning rather than on the observed behavior. As opposed to Behaviorists, Cognitivists do not require an outward exhibition of learning, but focus more on the internal processes and connections that take place during learning. Cognitivists objected to behaviorists because they felt that behaviorists thought learning was simply a reaction to a stimulus and ignored the idea that thinking plays an important role. One of the most famous criticisms addressed to Behaviorism was Chomsky’s argument that language could not be acquired purely through conditioning, and must be at least partly explained by the existence of some inner abilities. According to cognitivists, learners are active participants in the learning process. Connectivism is a learning theory that was developed by George Siemens. It is a learning theory of the digital age. It is developed and based upon the idea that learning occurs through a connected world. Sincerely, Umairah
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorUMAIRAH HATTA Archives
December 2019
Categories |