Educational Theories
A few different educational theories have popped up over the past century, some older than others and others inspired by that came before. BEHAVIORISM can be said to be one of the originating theories, developed by a psychologist called Skinner whom tested his theory on lab rats. Skinner would test lab rats and give them rewards/ punishments based on the way they were behaving, all in the meatime trying to shape their behavior to a certain way. His goal was to orient them towards a certain action through a rewards/punishment system. He believed that people behave in the same way, motivated by rewards and trying to avoid any harm.
COGNITIVISM was a critique on behaviorism as it stated that we possess knowledge inside of us already and simply need tools to access it. Cognitivist theory claims knowledge builds up on itself, new knowledge couldn’t exist without what we already know. When we take in something new, our brains work out ways to have it fit in with the old.
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CONSTRUCTIVISM is a theory advocated by a famous educational philosopher, Dewey. It believes that the outside world is our best teacher and we learn through interacting with it. To immerse ourselves within what is around us is the best means of learning because context is significant to what it is we are trying to learn.
Lastly, CONNECTIVISM can be summarized with the statement: “ It is not what or how we know” ( like other theories such as behaviorism claims) “ but where we access knowledge and our capacity for knowledge”. I personally am an advocate of both cognitivism and constructivism because I believe knowledge is based our interaction with our environment, and I also believe that knowledge builds on itself through creating new connections in our brain. Enjoy this page I have created for the exploration of these theories!
Part A
PLN Learning Theory Posts
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Part B
Learning and Technology Theory Reflection
Which one of the learning theories covered in this module best reflects how you learn? Why?
I think for me it is important to understand the significance of what it is that I am learning. That automatically rules out behaviorism and connectivism. I make past connections in my brain when I am working and see how the future information connects and fits into my folder of information in my brain. Cognitivism is a educational theory that organizes information in your brain to connect networks of learning. I think this is the closest to the way that I remember information. I see my brain as a filing cabinet and helping make mind maps and chunking information into bits has always helped me to remember it better. Once I organize the information into a brain map, I understand the “why” of what it is that I am learning and I thus, find the content more meaningful because I can apply it to real life. To bring something into a bigger context helps me to make sense of it. Constructivism is also a theory that helps me learn. To have a teacher in guiding me and help me make sense of information is the best way for me learn—when I learn independently and come to the information on my own. Developing skills and techniques is important for learning.
Identify and explain 3 specific ways that tech. could be used by a teacher to help you learn in this way.
Some technological tools that would help a cognitivist approach to learning are tools that help organize how content is presented to the student. One way that technology can help a learner who sympathizes with cognitive approach to learning is by using PowerPoint presentation and Prezi. These tools allow for ideas to be mapped out and followed in a way that allows for the main idea to be expressed by connecting smaller ideas together. These applications allow for the audience to go on a mental journey that connects thoughts in their minds just as it does in the mind of the student whom created it. Another important way that could help cognitive learners are tools that allow them to organize information. These include: Microsoft word and excel. These Microsoft applications are great for getting ideas down and developing a relationship between them in front of your eyes. These organizers substantiate the inner thinking process and helps direct it in a specific location. Lastly, it is important to incorporate tools that allow students to connect new information to prior knowledge therefore students are building a larger array of information (Wikipedia). These tools include programs such as Voicethread, Podcasting and GoogleDrive.