Learning Theories

Summary

This vlog introduces four key learning theories: behaviorism, cognitivism, constructivism, and connectivism. Behaviorism views learners as blank slates shaped by stimuli, while cognitivism emphasizes the mind as an information processor. Constructivism encourages self-discovery through experience, contrasting with cognitivism's focus on building on prior knowledge. Connectivism, the newest theory, highlights the importance of networks and the internet in facilitating learning and keeping knowledge relevant in a rapidly changing world. The presenter finds connectivism particularly relevant for 21st-century education.

Takeaways

• 😀 The vlog introduces four key learning theories: behaviorism, cognitivism, constructivism, and connectivism.
• 🔄 Behaviorism is the oldest theory, emphasizing learning through repetition and conditioning, like Pavlov's dogs experiment.
• 🤖 Cognitivism is a response to behaviorism, highlighting the mind as an information processor and the importance of understanding concepts as a whole.
• 🎯 Cognitivist strategies include starting lessons with hooks, using review quizzes, and organizing content with learning outcomes and graphic organizers.
• 🏗️ Constructivism promotes self-discovery and learning through personal experience and interaction, with the teacher acting more as a guide than a direct instructor.
• 🌐 Connectivism is a newer theory developed in the internet era, focusing on the importance of connections and networked learning for knowledge acquisition.
• 🔗 Connectivism considers the half-life of knowledge and the need for continuous learning through various online resources and networks.
• 📚 The vlog emphasizes the relevance of teaching as part of the learning process, aligning with the belief that sharing knowledge aids understanding.
• 👥 The learning community in connectivism is seen as a network of nodes, where collaboration leads to collective intelligence and deeper understanding.
• 🔑 Each learning theory has its unique approach, but the vlog suggests a blend of these theories might be most effective for teaching and learning.
• 🌟 Connectivism is highlighted as particularly relevant in the 21st century due to its focus on the dynamic nature of knowledge and the role of technology in learning.
• 💬 The vlogger invites viewers to share their thoughts on the presented theories, encouraging a dialogue on the effectiveness of different learning approaches.

Q & A

What is the purpose of the video blog mentioned in the transcript?

The purpose of the video blog is to present material on a blog in a new and engaging way, focusing on teaching about learning theories, particularly connectivism.

Which four learning theories are discussed in the video blog?

The four learning theories discussed are behaviorism, cognitivism, constructivism, and connectivism.

What is the main idea behind behaviorism according to the transcript?

Behaviorism is based on the idea that a learner is a blank slate shaped by stimuli, both positive and negative, and that learning occurs through repetition and conditioning.

Can you explain the concept of conditioning in behaviorism using Pavlov's experiment with dogs?

In Pavlov's experiment, a bell was rung before giving the dog a treat. Over time, the dog would salivate at the sound of the bell alone, even without the treat, demonstrating classical conditioning.

How does cognitivism differ from behaviorism in terms of understanding human learning?

Cognitivism views the mind as an information processor and emphasizes the understanding of concepts as a whole, rather than just focusing on observable behaviors.

What is Bloom's taxonomy and how is it related to cognitivism?

Bloom's taxonomy is a framework for categorizing educational goals, focusing on higher-level thinking skills. It is related to cognitivism as it promotes a structured approach to learning and understanding complex concepts.

What strategies are mentioned for promoting higher-level thinking in cognitivism?

Strategies include starting a lesson with a hook, using review quizzes, organizing content with learning outcomes, chunking content, and using graphic organizers.

How does constructivism differ from cognitivism in terms of the role of the learner and teacher?

In constructivism, the learner is more self-directed, discovering new ideas through experience and interaction, while the teacher acts as a guide rather than directly instructing the student.

What is connectivism and how does it relate to the internet era?

Connectivism is a learning theory developed in the internet era, emphasizing the importance of connections and networks in learning. It focuses on the ability to find, filter, and make sense of information from various sources.

How does the example of a student researching Donald Trump's rise to power illustrate connectivism?

The student uses various forms of media, such as Facebook, articles, blogs, and YouTube videos, to gather and understand information, demonstrating the use of networks and connections in learning.

What is the significance of the half-life of knowledge in connectivism?

The half-life of knowledge refers to the idea that knowledge becomes outdated quickly in the internet era. Connectivism emphasizes the importance of continuously updating and adapting to new information.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Introduction to Educational Vlogging and Learning Theories

The speaker introduces their new venture into vlogging as a means to share educational content, with a focus on learning theories. They express their skepticism about monetizing educational blogs but emphasize the importance of teaching as part of the learning process. The video aims to cover four major learning theories: behaviorism, cognitivism, constructivism, and connectivism, with a special focus on the latter. The speaker begins with behaviorism, the oldest theory, which likens the learner to a blank slate shaped by environmental stimuli, using Pavlov's experiment with dogs as an example of conditioning.

05:02

🤖 Behaviorism and Cognitivism: Foundations of Learning

The speaker delves into the details of behaviorism, highlighting its emphasis on repetition and conditioning, exemplified by Pavlov's dogs and the rat in a Skinner box. They then transition to cognitivism, which emerged as a more complex response to behaviorism, focusing on the mind as an information processor. Cognitivism promotes understanding concepts as a whole and is likened to Bloom's taxonomy, a framework the speaker is familiar with from their e-learning background. The speaker discusses strategies such as starting lessons with a hook, using review quizzes, organizing content, and employing graphic organizers to facilitate higher-level thinking.

🏗️ Constructivism: Learning Through Self-Discovery

Constructivism is presented as a theory that encourages students to learn through their own experiences and interactions, building knowledge through self-discovery. The speaker contrasts this with cognitivism, where learning is more guided and based on prior knowledge. Constructivism positions the teacher as a facilitator rather than a direct instructor, allowing students to explore and construct their understanding independently. The speaker reflects on their own high school experience at the Urban School of San Francisco, which employed many constructivist principles.

🌐 Connectivism: Learning in the Digital Age

The final paragraph introduces connectivism, a modern learning theory developed by George Siemens and Stephen Downes, in response to the digital age and the internet. Connectivism emphasizes the importance of connections and the creation of new knowledge through the combination of ideas. The theory considers the rapid obsolescence of knowledge and the need for constant learning through networks. The speaker illustrates connectivism with an example of a student researching Donald Trump's rise to power, using various online resources to piece together a comprehensive understanding. The theory highlights the collaborative nature of learning in the 21st century, where diverse sources contribute to a deeper grasp of concepts.

Keywords

💡Vlog

A vlog, short for video blog, is a type of blog for which the medium is video. It is a form of new media, part of a wider trend of bloggers and journalists using video to communicate personal opinions and experiences. In the script, the speaker introduces the concept of a vlog as a new way for them to present material on a blog, indicating their intention to use this medium for educational purposes.

💡Learning Theories

Learning theories are frameworks for understanding how learning occurs. They are central to the field of education and are used to inform teaching practices. In the video, the speaker discusses four learning theories, emphasizing their relevance to the process of education and the way knowledge is acquired.

💡Behaviorism

Behaviorism is one of the oldest learning theories, which posits that learning occurs through conditioning, interaction, and reinforcement with the environment. It is often associated with the idea of a 'blank slate' where behavior is shaped by stimuli. In the script, the speaker uses the example of Pavlov's dogs to illustrate classical conditioning, a key concept in behaviorism.

💡Cognitivism

Cognitivism is a learning theory that emerged as a response to behaviorism, focusing on the mental processes involved in learning, such as memory, attention, and problem-solving. It views the mind as an information processor. The speaker relates cognitivism to Bloom's taxonomy, highlighting its influence on structured and guided learning experiences.

💡Constructivism

Constructivism is a learning theory that emphasizes the idea that learners construct knowledge through experience, exploration, and discovery. It contrasts with cognitivism by focusing on self-directed learning and the creation of new ideas based on personal experiences. The script describes constructivism with an image of students using building blocks, symbolizing the process of constructing knowledge.

💡Connectivism

Connectivism is a modern learning theory developed in response to the digital age and the widespread availability of information. It stresses the importance of networks and the ability to connect and integrate information from various sources. The speaker explains connectivism through the example of a student using the internet to understand a complex topic, illustrating the theory's emphasis on networked learning.

💡Pavlov's Dogs

Pavlov's dogs refer to an experiment conducted by Ivan Pavlov, a Russian physiologist, where he conditioned dogs to associate the sound of a bell with food. This experiment is a classic example of classical conditioning and is used in the script to illustrate the principles of behaviorism.

💡Bloom's Taxonomy

Bloom's Taxonomy is a classification of educational goals, organizing them into a hierarchy of complexity and specificity. It is often used in the design of curricula, unit plans, and individual learning activities with the goal of enhancing learning and teaching. In the script, the speaker mentions Bloom's Taxonomy as foundational to their understanding of cognitivism.

💡Cognitive Strategies

Cognitive strategies in education refer to methods that aim to enhance cognitive processes such as attention, memory, and problem-solving. The speaker mentions starting lessons with a 'hook' and using graphic organizers as examples of cognitive strategies that are part of the cognitivist approach to learning.

💡Half-life of Knowledge

The half-life of knowledge is a concept that refers to the rate at which information or knowledge becomes outdated or irrelevant. In the context of connectivism, as discussed in the script, the rapid pace of new information on the internet means that the half-life of knowledge is decreasing, emphasizing the need for continuous learning and adaptation.

💡Networked Learning

Networked learning is an approach to education that leverages digital networks to facilitate learning. It is a key aspect of connectivism, where learning is seen as a process of connecting and sharing information within a community. The script describes a student's journey through various online platforms as an example of networked learning.

Highlights

Introduction to the concept of a video blog (vlog) as a new and engaging way to present educational material.

The speaker's intention to use YouTube for educational purposes without expecting financial gain, emphasizing the value of teaching in the learning process.

The four learning theories to be discussed: behaviorism, cognitivism, constructivism, and connectivism.

Behaviorism described as the oldest learning theory, focusing on shaping learners through positive and negative stimuli.

Illustration of behaviorism with the example of Pavlov's dogs and the concept of conditioning.

Cognitivism introduced as a response to behaviorism, emphasizing the complexity of human cognition and information processing.

Comparison of cognitivism to Bloom's taxonomy, highlighting its influence on the speaker's educational foundation.

Cognitivist strategies for higher-level thinking, such as starting lessons with a hook and using graphic organizers.

Constructivism's focus on self-directed learning through experience and interaction, contrasting with the guided approach of cognitivism.

The role of the teacher in constructivism as a guide rather than a direct instructor.

Connectivism as a new learning theory developed in the internet era, emphasizing connections and combinatorial creativity.

The concept of the learning community as a node within connectivism, creating networks through collaboration.

The example of a student using various internet resources to understand Donald Trump's rise to power, illustrating connectivism in action.

Connectivism's relevance in the 21st century and its potential strength compared to other learning theories.

The speaker's belief in the importance of teaching and the value of presenting educational content through vlogs.

An invitation for viewers to comment on their agreement or disagreement with the presented learning theories.

Transcripts

hi welcome to my video blog um also

known as a vlog I think this is

something new to me but I thought this

might be a really cool way to present

some material on a Blog I know that uh

YouTube is really popular place I doubt

I'm going to make any money on these uh

educational blogs but um I really do

believe that part of learning is

teaching so I'm going to uh try to teach

you guys about learning theories and uh

for the learning theories that we've

reviewed in this course with a special

emphasis on what's called

connectivism I'm going to talk to you

guys about uh the four learning theories

which is behaviorism uh cognitivism

constructivism and connectivism so those

are the four learning theories I'm going

to discuss

today all right we're going to start

with behaviorism this is one of the

oldest ones it's really about

um the human being or the learner being

a blank slate and it's and they are

shaped by stimuli both positive and

negative

it's kind of like

uh the the rat who wants to get the

piece of cheese and it pulls the lever

so we have a little picture of that rat

right there um and people learning

through repetition uh that's also one of

the Hallmarks of

behaviorism I want to touch on Pavlov's

dogs some of you guys may know this uh

this experiment that was done in the

early parts of the 20th century where

Pavlov who was a researcher an

experimenter uh rang a bell and then

would give the dog a treat and then the

dog would eat the treat and after a

while every time he rang the bell the

dog's mouth would water and that is uh

that's called conditioning and that's

one of the foundations of

behaviorism um I'm going to move on now

to cognitivism which is a which is a

little bit more complex but I I think

that they are

connected so cognitivism is a theory

that was in response to behaviorism a

lot of psychologists um really didn't

get on board with the idea that human

beings are just like a rat or an animal

and they really want to promote this

idea that um we are more complex and it

we needed to explain cognition itself um

in this Theory the mind is an

information processor um it emphasizes

the concept as a whole instead of just

the pieces so you're really trying to

understand uh the whole idea uh and the

and the

concept I was really taught this Theory

uh and un unknown unbeknownst to me uh

because when I read about cognitivism I

realized this is so much like Bloom's

taxonomy which was the foundation of my

education in e-learning and uh and I

still use a lot of his strategies but I

I do feel like there's actually a mix I

don't think that there's only one way to

uh teach and and there's only one way to

learn but um I do feel that cognitivism

was was my Foundation at

least um some of these examples of

cognitivist strategies um for higher

higher level thinking are for example uh

you starting a lesson with a hook to

create interest in in the in the

learning product or or whatever the

concept you're trying to learn so you

hook the Learner in uh with something

interesting and you start with a review

quiz that's going to promote prior

learning and you're going to have very

well organized learning content using uh

learning outcomes chunking content to

bite-sized pieces using graphic

organizers and the the student really

takes on role in learning But the

teacher is also

there uh to teach and and to guide the

students into what needs to be learned

uh also the teacher is G gives a lot of

encouragement and positive feedback

within uh

cognitivism so this is a theory that I

think that um most schools do adhere to

right

now constructivism is another theory and

it really Pro promotes students learning

new things through experience on their

own they build knowledge through

experience and interaction that that's

pretty much what what it is and you see

here uh in this picture these students

are G giving these like building blocks

or some Putty maybe to to stick them

together and I like to think in this

picture they were just G given this this

these blocks they weren't given really

very much instruction so the teacher

there uh more as a guide but not really

telling students exactly what to do it's

it's about self-discovery I feel like

the high school I attended which is kind

of a progressive High School in San

Francisco called Urban School of San

Francisco they um use a lot of

constructivist ideas I do believe that

uh one of the major differences in

between cognitivism and

constructivism uh in COG in cognitivism

the students are encouraged are are

taught to do something and they build on

uh prior knowledge whereas in

constructivism the students are

encouraged to discover something on

their own and the learning is very much

self-directed

uh another major difference is that in

cognitivism learning is about building a

prior knowledge and constructivism is

about building new ideas and Concepts

based on your own Discovery so I think I

I uh re I reiterate

that all right so lastly we move on to

connectivism connectivism is a really

rather new learning theory it was

developed uh by George seamons and

Steven DS it's uh it stresses the

connections and what's

called uh combinat oral creativity so

it's about bringing people together

through connections and it was really a

theory developed uh in the era of the

worldwide web of the internet and the

previous three behaviorism cognitivism

and constructivism were all developed

prior to the Advent of the

internet and George Seaman Theory takes

into account uh learning Trends and and

technology and networks and also then

the the diminishing half-life of

knowledge so he really thinks about um

knowledge itself and how relevant it is

and what um how long is that knowledge

going to be useful and with the admin

the internet there's new information new

knowledge coming all the time and he

feels that connectivism and through the

use of networks they're able to uh keep

the uh keep the halflife of knowledge to

a

minimum uh The Learning Community is

described as a node within connectivism

and the and when

two or more nodes come together it

creates the network and then through the

network you connect many people so it's

a it's a collaborative or mass

intelligence I'll give you an example

let's say a student is uh trying to

learn something new for example um uh

student is researching how Trump came to

power he's very confused about this and

he maybe he starts on

Facebook and a friend posts some article

about uh about Donald Trump it then

takes him to the article and the article

text is really dense he kind of gets an

idea about it but it's still confusing

uh the student then Scrolls down to the

comment sections and finds a link to a

Blog uh that student finds the blog and

embedded within that blog is a YouTube

video about Donald Trump and his rise to

power and he watches the video and he

more fully understands the issue the

student just used various forms of

gathering information using the internet

and has gleaned the most Salient

information and the use of uh of those

many different modes of learning uh he

or she or the student has more fully

understood the issue so what we're

looking at is bringing together many

people many different ideas using

different modes of learning you know

text blogs video and it's um this its

outcome is actually just as strong as

any of the other learning theories and

maybe even stronger based on what seens

talks

about so that's my um that's my uh

presentation on the four different

learning theories I hope you enjoyed

this presentation let me know in the

comments if uh if you agree or disagree

with what I've talked about I I feel

that connectivism is a very interesting

learning theory that uh that has a lot

of relevance in the 21st century