Assignment 1

Assignment on
EDUCATIONAL LEARNING THEORIES

Learning Management System is an essential tool for teaching learners digitally, it's not the
only thing you'll need to design effective courses. To build and deploy courses that your
learners will actually learn from, you'll also want to have a grasp of common
learning theories.
If you understand the mechanisms that power the human learning process, you are much
more likely to design effective courses that align with them and you can increase the ROI of
your course.
A list of learning theories are given below for the better understanding.
1. Behaviorism Learning Theory
Behavioral Learning Theory focuses on the outside environment’s influences on learning.

Behaviorism learning theory is the idea that how a student behaves is based on their
interaction with their environment. It suggests that behaviors are influenced and learned from
external forces rather than internal forces.
Psychologists have been developing the idea of behaviorism since the 19 th century.
Behavioral learning theory is the basis for psychology that can be observed and quantified.
Positive reinforcement is a popular element of behaviorism—classical conditioning observed
in Pavlov’s dog experiments suggests that behaviors are directly motivated by the reward that
can be obtained.
Teachers in a classroom can utilize positive reinforcement to help students better learn a
concept. Students who receive positive reinforcement are more likely to retain information
moving forward, a direct result of the behaviorism theory.
2. Cognitive Learning Theory
Cognitive Learning Theory uses metacognition—“thinking about thinking”—to understand

how thought processes influence learning.
Cognitive learning theory looks at the way
people think. Mental processes are an
important part in understanding how we
learn. The cognitive theory understands
that learners can be influenced by both
internal and external elements.
Plato and Descartes are two of the first philosophers that focused on cognition and how we as
human beings think. Many other researchers looked deeper into the idea of how we think,
spurring more research. Jean Piaget is a highly important figure in the field of cognitive
psychology, and his work focuses on environments and internal structures and how they
impact learning.
Cognitive theory has developed over time, breaking off into sub-theories that focus on unique
elements of learning and understanding. At the most basic level, the cognitive theory suggests
that internal thoughts and external forces are both an important part of the cognitive process.
And as students understand how their thinking impacts their learning and behavior, they are
able to have more control over it.
Cognitive learning theory impacts students because their understanding of their thought
process can help them learn. Teachers can give students opportunities to ask questions, to
fail, and think out loud. These strategies can help students understand how their thought
process works, and utilize this knowledge to construct better learning opportunities.
3. Connectivism Learning Theory
Connectivism is one of the newest educational learning theories. It focuses on the idea that
people learn and grow when they form connections. This can be connections with each other
or connections with their roles and obligations in their lives. Hobbies, goals, and people can
all be connections that influence learning.
Teachers can utilize connectivism in their classrooms to help students make connections to
things that excite them, helping them learn. Teachers can use digital media to make good,
positive connections to learning. They can help create connections and relationships with
their students and with their peer groups to help students feel motivated about learning.
4. Constructivism Learning Theory
Constructivism learning theory is based on the idea that students actually create their own
learning based on their previous experiences. Students take what they’re being taught and add
it to their previous knowledge and experiences, creating a reality that’s unique to them. This
learning theory focuses on learning as an active process, which is personal and individual for
each student.
Teachers can utilize constructivism to help understand that each student will bring their own
past to the classroom every day. Teachers in constructivist classrooms act as more of a guide
to helping students create their own learning and understanding. They help them create their
own process and reality based on their own past. This is crucial to helping many kinds of
students take their own experiences and include them in their learning.
5. Humanism Learning Theory
Humanism is very closely related to constructivism. Humanism directly focuses on the idea
of self-actualization. Everyone functions under a hierarchy of needs. Self-actualization is at
the top of the hierarchy of needs—it’s the brief moments where a person feels all of their
needs are met and that they’re the best possible version of themselves. Everyone is striving
for this, and learning environments can either move toward meeting needs or away from
meeting needs.
Teachers can create classroom environments that help students get closer to their self-
actualization. Educators can help fulfill students’ emotional and physical needs, giving them
a safe and comfortable place to learn, plenty of food, and the support they need to succeed.
This kind of environment is the most conducive to helping students learn.
Suitable learning theory for Tech savvy learners
According to me, the most suitable learning theory for today’s tech savvy learners and one of
the most recent learning theories is Connectivism Learning Theory.
This theory considers the impact of the digital age on learning. It argues that social
connections and technology shape learning.
Connectivism applies especially to today’s workplace learning climate, where collaboration
is becoming increasingly remote and bottom-up.
With an LMS that facilitates social learning through collaborative activities, we can tap into
the advantages of connectivism. Flexible and democratized LMS platforms also allow for
continuously updating facts that learners can share quickly.
References:
1. WGU Blog - TEACHING & EDUCATION - Five Educational Learning Theories.
https://www.wgu.edu/blog/five-educational-learning-theories2005.html#close
2. Audrey Jarre, Head of Learning – www.360learning.com
https://360learning.com/guide/learning-theories/cognitive-learning-theory/
3. www.google.com

Assignment 1

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Assignment 1

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Assignment on

EDUCATIONAL LEARNING THEORIES

1. Behaviorism Learning Theory

Behavioral Learning Theory focuses on the outside environment’s influences on learning.

Cognitive Learning Theory uses metacognition—“thinking about thinking”—to understand

3. Connectivism Learning Theory

4. Constructivism Learning Theory

5. Humanism Learning Theory

2. Audrey Jarre, Head of Learning – www.360learning.com

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