Big 3 Learning Theories: Behaviorism, Cognitivism, Constructivism! Intro to ID Part 4 of 6
Summary
TLDRThis instructional design video focuses on the 'big three' learning theories: behaviorism, cognitivism, and constructivism. Behaviorism emphasizes observable behaviors and reinforcement, cognitivism centers on mental processes and building on existing knowledge, while constructivism encourages learners to create their own meaning through experience. The video discusses the application of these theories in designing effective learning experiences, tailored to different audiences and contexts.
Takeaways
- π The video discusses the 'big three' learning theories in instructional design: behaviorism, cognitivism, and constructivism.
- πΆ Behaviorism focuses on observable behaviors and treats the mind as a 'black box', using reinforcement to achieve desired outcomes.
- π» Cognitivism views the mind as a computer, emphasizing the organization and structuring of new information to fit with existing knowledge.
- π Cognitivism is about creating structured learning experiences, often using learning objectives and backward design to build upon foundational knowledge.
- π Constructivism is centered on the idea that learners construct their own understanding from their experiences, making learning subjective and context-dependent.
- π₯ Constructivism values social negotiation and encourages learners to validate their understandings through interaction with others.
- π The choice of learning theory depends on the context, audience, and the desired learning outcomes.
- π Bloom's Taxonomy is mentioned as a tool to structure learning experiences, starting with basic knowledge and building up to higher-order thinking skills.
- π¨βπ« Different theories are suitable for different educational contexts; for example, behaviorism might be used for basic skills like vocabulary, while constructivism is better for complex understanding.
- π Instructional designers should consider multiple theories and adapt them to the needs of the learners and the subject matter being taught.
- π The next video in the series will cover memory, motivation, and learning, continuing the exploration of instructional design concepts.
Q & A
What are the three major learning theories discussed in the script?
-The three major learning theories discussed are Behaviorism, Cognitivism, and Constructivism.
How does Behaviorism view the learning process?
-Behaviorism treats the mind as a black box, focusing only on input and output without considering what happens in the mind. It's an old school approach that can be used for drill and practice or simple vocabulary tests.
What is the role of the learner in Cognitivism?
-In Cognitivism, the learner is active and engaged in the learning process. The mind is likened to a computer where new information is coded and structured to fit with existing information.
What is Bloom's Taxonomy and how does it relate to Cognitivism?
-Bloom's Taxonomy is a structure for learning with six levels, starting from remembering facts and basic concepts to evaluating and creating. It is a useful tool in Cognitivism for constructing a learning experience that builds from basic knowledge to higher-level skills.
How does Constructivism differ from the other two theories?
-Constructivism emphasizes that learners create their own meaning from their experiences. It treats learning as subjective and context-dependent, focusing on the individual's unique construction of understanding.
What is the significance of context in Constructivist learning?
-In Constructivism, learning must occur in context, meaning learners should be engaged with the subject matter in a real-world setting, which allows them to construct a deeper understanding.
Why might Behaviorism be less effective for adult learners?
-Behaviorism might be less effective for adults because it can come across as dehumanizing and does not consider the complexities of adult learning, which often requires more abstract and critical thinking.
How can Cognitivism be applied in designing a curriculum?
-Cognitivism can be applied by identifying the basic information and skills a learner needs, then systematically building upon that foundation to create a structured and scaffolded learning experience.
What is the role of social negotiation in Constructivist learning?
-Social negotiation plays a critical role in Constructivist learning as it allows learners to validate their understandings, correct misunderstandings, and deepen their learning through interaction with peers or mentors.
How does the script suggest choosing between these learning theories?
-The choice of learning theory depends on the context, the learner, and the educational goals. The script suggests getting familiar with these theories and using them as a guide to create effective learning experiences.
What is the purpose of the knowledge check questions at the end of the script?
-The knowledge check questions are designed to engage the viewer and test their understanding of the learning theories discussed. They provide practical examples to help differentiate between Behaviorism, Cognitivism, and Constructivism.
Outlines
π Introduction to Learning Theories
The script introduces the concept of learning theories in instructional design, specifically focusing on three prominent theories: behaviorism, cognitivism, and constructivism. These are foundational for understanding how people learn and are essential for creating effective learning experiences. The narrator emphasizes the importance of these theories as they are derived from scientific studies on learning. The video is part of a series on instructional design, and viewers are encouraged to explore previous parts for more context.
πΆ Behaviorism: Learning as a Response to Stimuli
Behaviorism is discussed as the first learning theory, exemplified by Pavlov's dogs experiment, where the dogs learned to associate a bell with food, leading to a conditioned response. In behaviorism, the mind is considered a 'black box' where internal processes are not as important as observable behaviors. The theory is useful for basic learning tasks like drills and vocabulary tests, which serve as foundational skills for more complex learning. It's noted that behaviorism is more applicable to children and less so for adults, but it remains a valuable tool for reinforcing key information.
π‘ Cognitivism: The Mind as an Information Processor
Cognitivism is the second theory presented, where the mind is likened to a computer that processes and structures new information based on existing knowledge. This theory emphasizes the active role of the learner in constructing meaning from new information. The script discusses the importance of aligning instructional design with learning objectives and using systematic approaches like backward design. Cognitivism is particularly useful for creating structured and scaffolded learning experiences, and it is linked to Bloom's Taxonomy, a tool for structuring educational goals from basic knowledge to higher-order thinking skills.
π Constructivism: Learning Through Personal Experience
Constructivism is the final theory highlighted, which views learning as a subjective and individual process where learners construct their own understanding based on their experiences. This theory requires learning to occur in context, emphasizing the importance of real-world application. Constructivism treats learners as whole individuals and encourages social negotiation of ideas. It is noted as the most challenging theory to implement but is highly person-centered. The script suggests that constructivism is best suited for experiential learning and apprenticeships, where learners are actively engaged in the learning process.
π Applying Theories in Instructional Design
The script concludes with a discussion on how to apply these learning theories in instructional design. It suggests that the choice of theory depends on the learner, the context, and the educational goals. Each theory has its strengths and is suitable for different scenarios. Behaviorism is recommended for basic skills and safety training, cognitivism for structured learning experiences, and constructivism for personalized and context-based learning. The narrator also introduces a knowledge check with three questions to engage viewers and test their understanding of the theories.
π Upcoming: Memory, Motivation, and Learning
The final paragraph serves as aι’ε for the next video in the series, which will focus on memory and motivation in learning. It sets expectations for viewers to return for part five of the instructional design series.
Mindmap
Keywords
π‘Learning Theories
π‘Behaviorism
π‘Cognitivism
π‘Constructivism
π‘Instructional Design
π‘Learning Objectives
π‘Bloom's Taxonomy
π‘Drill and Practice
π‘Systematic Curriculum
π‘Contextual Learning
π‘Social Negotiation
Highlights
Introduction to the 'big three' learning theories in instructional design: behaviorism, cognitivism, and constructivism.
Learning theories are scientific explanations based on studying how people learn.
Behaviorism focuses on observable behaviors, treating the mind as a 'black box'.
Behaviorism is useful for drill and practice, vocabulary tests, and basic exercises.
Cognitivism views the mind as a computer, organizing and structuring new information.
Cognitivism is ideal for systematic curriculum design and building upon existing knowledge.
Learning objectives and backward design are key components of cognitivism.
Bloom's Taxonomy is a tool for structuring learning experiences from basic to advanced.
Constructivism emphasizes individual learning through personal experience and context.
Constructivism treats learning as subjective and encourages social negotiation of ideas.
Constructivism is challenging to implement but focuses on learner-centered experiences.
The choice of learning theory depends on the context, audience, and learning goals.
Behaviorism is suitable for safety training and basic skills for children.
Cognitivism is effective for building scaffolded learning experiences.
Constructivism is valuable for treating learners as whole persons in their learning journey.
Instructional design should consider multiple theories and adapt to different contexts.
The importance of aligning learning experiences with learning objectives for systematic design.
Constructivism encourages learners to construct their own understandings and validate them socially.
Examples of applying behaviorism, cognitivism, and constructivism in educational settings.
Upcoming video on memory, motivation, and learning as part of the instructional design series.
Transcripts
hey designers today we are going to talk
about
learning theories what i like to call
the big three
learning theories this is part four of
my intro to instructional design series
be sure to check out parts one through
three to get more on instructional
design let's go ahead and dive into
theories
so these are the big three theories i'm
going to cover in this video behaviorism
cognitivism constructivism if you are
new to instructional design these are
the three you'll see most often and they
are a great place to get started with
thinking about learning theories as i
mentioned in the last video
learning theories are science
they are a result of scientists studying
how people learn and coming up with
explanations that help us understand how
people learn so they're a great place to
draw upon
good explanations of how people learn
and can use these theories in
instructional design to create better
more effective learning experiences for
our particular audiences now
each of these three three theories
is very different i'll talk about the
similarities and differences and which
one you will choose will depend on your
given time context your given audience
and you might you'll likely use several
for any given learning experience so
let's dive in
behaviorism
you might be familiar with
pavlov's dogs they were trained to drool
when a bell was wrong that is classic
behaviorism behaviorists treat the mind
as a black box we don't care in
behaviorism what's going on in the mind
only the input and output matter okay
it's a very old school approach to
learning and you'll notice it's a little
it's a little dehumanizing in some ways
right we don't care what goes on in
someone's mind that's not so great but
there is a place for behaviorism for
maybe doing drill and practice for doing
simple vocabulary tests things that can
be built upon for higher level learning
so
in any case behaviorists believe that
you know put in the right input and
reinforcement to get the output desired
this is a good theory to use if you're
trying to do some sort of building block
exercise right if um maybe your learners
need to know some vocabulary so that
they can actually move on in a given
topic things that are really basic but
are really critical to a larger learning
experience so
behaviorism
can work well for kids less well for
adults but it can be a great way to
drill in really important information
for a particular context there are
places where it's really appropriate and
it's a good um
strategy and theory to use
next step cognitivism in cognitivism we
very much care what's going on with the
mind okay the mind in fact is like a
computer okay
it's organized
new information is coded and structured
to fit in with existing information and
the learner is really active engaged in
the process we're not just doing things
to them to try to get the right output
like behaviorism
we are really thinking about who our
learner is what their existing
experience and knowledge is so that we
can construct a learning experience
that's going to work really well for who
they are and where they are okay
so in cognitivism any activity should be
chunked and designed in a way to
facilitate processing again yeah a
little bit of dehumanizing stuff going
on here so talking about computers and
processing but it is a useful way to
kind of approach a really systematic
curriculum so if you are
designing some sort of larger course or
multi
series of courses or a larger curriculum
you want to think about what the basic
information is someone needs the basic
skills and tasks someone needs to do so
you can build upon it to get more
creative in the future to get to a
higher um
level of knowledge or skills of analysis
on the learner's part so
cognitivism we're breaking it down we
are treating our learners like they have
some existing knowledge and we're going
to figure out how we can fit in new
knowledge
in cognitivism think learning objectives
and backward design
if you're not familiar with learning
objectives a learning objective is a
simple statement of where you want your
learner to be following a learning
experience it would be something like
learners will be able to
label the parts of a cell for example if
you're thinking like seventh grade
science students um backward design is
where you know just being really
systematic about uh
constructing a learning experience that
aligns perfectly to that learning
objective okay instructional design is
all about being systematic i just can't
say that enough and if you write a
learning objective
and carefully align your design to your
learning objective you're going to have
a really systematic well constructed
learning experience all right i digress
in any case cognitivism is all about
being structured being specific
targeting your learner where they are
building upon their existing knowledge
and you may or may not be familiar with
bloom's taxonomy
bloom's taxonomy structures learning
okay
uh bloom
decided that there are six
levels of learning again this is a
really useful tool for kind of
understanding ways that you might be
able to construct a learning experience
to start with the kind of basic building
blocks and work up to higher level
skills for your learners so bloom's
pyramid here
says that the bottom level of any
learning is going to be
remembering
facts and basic concepts so again this
comes back to my example of
maybe your learner needs to know some
basic definitions before they can do
anything more advanced before they can
even understand the topic at hand they
need to know the vocabulary involved you
know there's gonna be some back and
forth between these two levels but these
are the bottom of the pyramid here
you're not going to ever get to evaluate
or create unless you've mastered the
basics down here so again cognitivism is
all about structuring a learning
experience making sure you are um
facilitating processing by your learner
figuring out how you can help your
learner encode new information to fit in
with existing information again you
might start some building blocks down
here and then you would figure out how
to encode information in the middle of
pyramid to fit in with what they've
already remembered and understood okay
all right so last but not least that
leaves us with the theory constructivism
constructivism
i mean i'm a constructivist at heart i
think it's just this theory is the best
it is the hardest theory to use in
instructional design though i mean i'm
sure there's more out there that are
hard to use this one's pretty hard to
use all right constructivism is all
about learners are going to create their
own meaning from their own experience
okay each learner is a unique individual
we are very much treating learners as
people with this theory
and each person has to construct their
own understanding of the topic at hand
but this theory learning has to occur in
context okay it's not just you're
sitting in a class and learning about
something out in the world you should be
out in the world learning it if you're
learning something out in the world okay
uh and in this one each mind is
constructing its own reality learning is
not objective i just want to
reflect on that for a moment this theory
treats learning as being very subjective
it really depends on who your learner is
where they're coming from their own
lived experience how they interpret
things they might take things very
differently than how you intend them
like maybe you think something's really
straightforward they're like no actually
based on my experience is a little bit
you know different than what you
intended so again this is a hard theory
to put into place but i think it's a
really wonderful one because it does
really treat people as people
and
it treats the learners kind of like a
a co-facilitator of their own experience
as well okay learning here is not just
something we're doing to them trying to
get them to a final location a final you
know behavior they need to perform for
us to show that they've learned
something they're they're part of the
journey as well
it's really nice uh quote here from um
foundations of learning and social
design technology book that's a book i
mentioned in my last video learners are
encouraged to construct their own
understandings okay and then to validate
these new perspectives and it's also
critical here that talks about social
negotiation so humans are social
i am very much a believer that um any
sort of social experience in learning is
going to lead to more and deeper
learning so constructivism is about
constructing your own understanding and
then kind of bouncing it off you know
your co-learners or your mentors to
really kind of cement that understanding
correct any misunderstandings
so this theory think like again learning
in context apprentices apprentice ships
so like you're an electrician
electrician you're not just sitting in
the classroom learning about how to wire
things you're in someone's house
learning how to wire things think
montessori uh for children
i think experiential learning okay
constructivism treats the person as a
person it is the hardest to put into
practice but it is a really nice
philosophy
of instructional design if you can even
approach constructivism in a learning
experience
that's a good person-centered way to
approach it all right again
there's no one perfect theory there's
many more theories besides there's sub
theories related to each of these
there's whole other ones that i haven't
even began to touch upon and i've been
teaching this for a long time and i'm
continually learning about new theories
educational psychology is a a deep and
varied field there's a ton of theories
out there it's really fascinating the
science of learning is fascinating and
each of these theories
really
is going to depend
on your learner and what your learner
should be able to do and also you know
what you are teaching as well okay
behaviorism might work really well for
anything related to safety maybe things
that you're teaching children
cognitivism is great if you are trying
to build kind of a a scaffolded learning
experience constructivism is wonderful
because it treats the learner like a
whole person and you are working with
them to construct their understanding of
a topic but it is going to be kind of
the most time consuming theory to
implement and it's really difficult to
implement in online learning as well so
again
just like when you're choosing an
instructional design system or model
like addie or sam to put into practice
as you are planning out a learning
experience the learning theories you
choose are going to vary from
context to context learn to learner
maybe even where you work has particular
ones they want to put into place so
don't stress out too much about it get
familiar with them and you'll get more
of a feel for them as you move on in
your instructional design journey
and you know do keep focus along the way
on what you want your learner to be able
to do after the learning experience and
again you might use more than one
anytime you are designing something so
that said let's do a knowledge check
i've got three questions for you
i like to build in a little bit of
interactivity into my videos if they are
just videos so i'm going to ask you
three questions i'll pause for a moment
let you think and then i'll let you know
what the correct answer is so number one
say you have students that are asked to
write biographies for five historical
figures
then they're asked to analyze these
figures impact on events
is this an example of behaviorism
cognitivism or constructivism
this one is an example of cognitivism
and the key here is
that first off students are asked to do
something basic related to these figures
right they're writing brief biographies
so they're remembering and understanding
remember bloom's taxonomy then they're
asked to move on to analysis so they're
actually building they're doing a second
step where they're building on the first
step the first step is writing the brief
bios remembering understanding
second step is that they're doing some
analysis so this is a cognitivist
approach to this learning experience
because it is building a scaffolded
learning experience and trying to figure
out how to encode information to fit
what students already know once they
know these figures they're going to be
able to analyze these figures impact so
that's cognitivism
next step
students are tested
on how 15 words are spelled
tests with failing scores must be taken
home and signed by their parents
i think you know school children for
this one what is this an example of
this one is
behaviorism the clue here is that tests
with failing scores must be taken home
and signed by their parents oof you get
a bad score on your test i know you're
not going to take that home so the idea
is that these kids are going to be
more motivated to do better on their
spelling test because otherwise they're
going to have to show
show their shame to their parents you
know
this is not a way you would treat adults
i don't know this is the best way to
treat kids either because you know
there's probably better ways to motivate
them but this is an example of
behaviorism you're trying to
motivate your students and you're just
trying to put in the right right input
here to get the right output that you
are desiring as the educator all right
last one
sixth grade students are asked asked to
conduct independent research and then
create an original diagram that
illustrates the impact of pollution on
marine life what is this an example of
this one's constructivism so as you can
see this is kind of a um
very independent learning activity
they're conducting independent research
and then they're creating their own
original diagram that illustrates
something
uh in this learning experience these
learners are taking control of their own
learning experience they're constructing
their own understanding by doing their
own research and expressing it in a
certain way so in this the the
instructor or educator here would have
to be very careful to be kind of
co-learning along with them to be
guiding and facilitating their learning
to make sure they end up at the right
place but it's a wonderful example of
constructivism all right so that is it
for this video
next up we are going to dive into memory
motivation and learning that's going to
be part five of this six part
introduction to instructional design
series so be sure to come back for that
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