EDM 510 Learning Theory Matrix
Our assignment this week was to create a Learning Theory Matrix that outlines four different learning theories; behaviorism, cognitivism, constructivism, and connectivism.
Creating this matrix helped me understand the different aspects involved in the learning process such as how learning occurs, factors that influence learning, the role of memory in learning and how the transference of information takes place. Since my background is in the health sciences and not education, I found this assignment challenging but very informative. I started by checking out the web resources provided to us in class. Then I did my own Google search for sources of information which was vast and a little overwhelming. My sources included websites, articles, research papers, SlideShare posts, videos, and blogs to name a few. It was awesome to find so many, but I wanted to read and watch everything, and I found myself going down a rabbit hole several times trying to absorb everything I could.
Having completed this assignment, I feel I have a good working knowledge of the four learning theories and will be able to utilize them in my classroom. I can make better decisions regarding instructional objectives and strategies depending on the subject and my student. Seeing and interacting with some of the online teaching resources has given me tools that I can use when I actually start teaching.
Some of the resources I found helpful:
The following website contained great information comparing behaviorism, cognitivism and constructivism; https://lidtfoundations.pressbooks.com/chapter/behaviorism-cognitivism-constructivism/
A good article on Behaviorism and Technology in the Modern Classroom was on the following blog: https://derrickmgreen.wordpress.com/2009/07/07/behaviorism-and-technology-in-the-modern-classroom/
This was a good teacher’s blog that talks about cognitivism theory and technology in the classroom: http://preetisingh65.blogspot.com/2011/01/cognitivism-in-practice.html
Learning Theory Matrix:
| BEHAVIORISM | COGNITIVISM | CONSTRUCTIVISM | CONNECTIVISM | |
| DESCRIPTION | Learning is viewed as tangible behaviors that are acquired through a stimulus-response learning process known as conditioning. The conditioning occurs when the teacher presents the student with a cue (stimulus) which prompts the student for a response or behavior. If the student gives the desired response or behavior, they are positively rewarded with such things as verbal praise, good grades, etc. If the response is not correct, the student will have unpleasant consequences such as poor grades or negative feedback. Learning occurs when positive rewards reinforce the student to repeat the correct response. | Learning is not just a response to an environmental stimulus. It is an active process that views the learner’s mind as a computer and the learner must process stored information using different cognitive processes such as thinking, remembering, perceiving, interpreting, reasoning and problem solving to learn new material. This new information can be transferred to new environments. Educators are responsible for giving students the tools to be able to search and find their own answers | Knowledge is formed and reformed through the interaction that takes place between a student’s past knowledge and perceptions and exposure to new ideas and perceptions of others. The teacher facilitates the learning process by creating a certain amount of cognitive dissonance in students, introducing social interaction between students and exposing them to new concepts. Through this, the teacher forces students to become critical thinkers and create their own interpretation and understandings. There are two types of constructivism; cognitive and social. | Form of experiential learning that occurs through various Internet technologies that allow people to learn and share information across networks. Learning occurs through having the knowledge of how to access this information. Learning also involves making decisions about the accuracy of the sources of information which are vast, distributed across a network of connections and are constantly changing. The educator provides the scaffolding to connect with others |
| NOTABLE THEORISTS | B.F. Skinner Ivan Pavlov John B. Watson | Robert Gagne Benjamin Bloom Howard Gardner | Jean Piaget-cognitive Lev Vygotsky-social John Dewey Jerome Bruner | George Siemens Stephen Downes |
| HOW THEORY GUIDES TECHNOLOGY | Using interactive technology that provides students with instant feedback on their performance or behavior thereby providing them with rewards and punishments. As they receive more rewards for the desired responses or behavior, learning takes place. | Technology using word-processing, spreadsheets, graphing software, concept mapping software and multimedia tools can help students visualize difficult concepts. Technology can allow the student to activate prior knowledge and learn on the different cognitive levels to understand new information. | Technology using communication that allow students to interact with peers for collaborative learning to take place. These include tools such as Internet conferencing, e-mail, electronic discussion groups or interactive web-based learning programs. | Teaching students how to find and access reliable Internet sites for learning new information and teaching them how to discern their validity. Introducing students to different Internet networks and platforms that will allow them to connect and share the information they have learned with others. |
| EXAMPLE | ClassDojo is an app that gives students feedback on their behavior. | BrainPop, Discovery Education and Teacher Tube are found on the Internet. Inspiration is a brainstorming software | Kidspace and ScienceSpace are web-based programs that involve telecollaboration and virtual worlds. | Online learning courses, MOOC (Massive Open Online Course), educational forums, blogs, Youtube. |
Mary’s Blog 
Hi Mary! First of all, I like how you arranged your information. I was not familiar with a matrix, so I had to google and do some research. Your information is neatly organized and easy to read. I see that your background is health sciences. What would you like to do? How do you see these theories fitting into what you would like to do? I find that my students and myself fit into the last 3 theories the most. Ok, and how did you get your name into your blog address? That had me stumped!
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I am undecided about what direction in education to go in and am attempting to figure it out. I think I would like to teach elementary education or high school sciences. I do like the younger age group, so I am leaning toward that direction. I am also looking into Instructional Development and Design to see if that would be a good fit. The theories gave me an understanding about the different levels at which learning takes place and the wide array of tools that are out there. I think I could utilize all of them in any area of education that I may decide. This is my first blog site, so it took some time for me to figure out how to set it up. When I had to choose a blog name, I used my last name for part of it, and it was a choice that was available, so I took it.
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Hi! I also found this assignment slightly challenging, as my academic background is not in education either. However, I must say this assignment left me so excited about the future of technology and its implications for the classroom! It’s hard to believe how far we have come and how different school is now than it was even just when I was in grade school (which was only a handful of years ago). I can’t wait to see what we can achieve in the years to come. Also, I really enjoyed reading through your matrix. An aspect I love about this course is how we get to share so much information with each other, which I believe will enrich all of our classrooms in the long run. Great post!
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I definitely agree that this assignment was a bit challenging for those who do not have an education background. I have my B.S. in Meteorology and I don’t recall learning about any of these theories in prior classes. Once I started reading about the theories, I was able visualize how to apply these in my classroom. While doing research, I was able to make connections to the online resources I have seen/used before and which learning theory it applies to. It really helped me understand the technology and the goal of it.
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