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LEARNING THEORIES
BEHAVIORISM and COGNITIVISM
By Mario Holley
Understanding How People
Think and Learn


People have been trying to understand learning
for over 2000 years. Learning theorists have
carried out a debate on how people learn that
began at least as far back as the Greek
philosophers, Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle
Discussions on how individuals think and learn
have taken place throughout history. As a result,
various perspectives—influenced by philosophy
and psychology—have developed and continue
to be developed.
Types of Learning Theories
 Behaviorism
 Cognitive
Background Information

Learning theories allow teachers to better understand
the process of learning.

Together with the use of technology, learn theories
have made a significant impact in the classroom.
Defining Behaviorism

Learning is defined by the outward
expression of new behaviors

Focuses solely on observable behaviors

A biological basis for learning

Learning is context-independent
Behaviourists

The theory of Behaviorism originates from the works of B. F. Skinner’s,
operant conditioning.

Classical Conditioning is when an unconditioned stimulus and
response is manipulated with a conditioned stimulus to create a
conditioned response.

Operant Conditioning is a controlled response with a reward/
punishment system according to the behavior.

The learner needs reinforcements to keep interest.

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Stimuli are effective in controlling behavior.
As a result, the behaviors can be measured to record learning success.
Skinner
Burrhus Frederic Skinner
Born March 20, 1904
Died August 18, 1990
Born in Susquehanna,
Pennsylvania
American psychologist,
author, inventor, advocate for
social reform and poet.
Innovated his own
philosophy of science called
Radical Behaviourism
Cognitivism



Information Processing looks at how information is retrieved and
stored.
This theory focuses on how to store and retrieve information.
Learning is attained through rehearsal and consistent use of the
information.
 Retention strategies such as breaking down information and
comparing the information to long term storage are great techniques.
Cognitivism history


Cognitive theory is based on a number of
theorists’ contributions
The most recognize theorists would be Jean
Piaget
Jean Piaget


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Piaget was the first psychologist to make a
systematic study of cognitive development.
Piaget’s work was the common assumption in
psychology that children are merely less
competent thinkers than adults.
Piaget argued that people are born with
schemes, tendency to organize their thinking
processes, which at birth he called reflexes.
Web Resources
Behavioral Learning Theory
http://suedstudent.syr.edu/~ebarrett/ide621/behavior.htm
Cognitivism Learning Theory
http://web.syr.edu/~walker/COGNITIVISMTHEORIES.htm
Matthew D. Laliberte
www.nercomp.org/data/media/A%20Brief%20History%20of%20Learnin
g%20Theory.ppt
Merriam, S. B., Caffarella, R. S., & Baumgartner, L. M. (2007). Learning in
adulthood: A comprehensive guide (3rd.). San Francisco: Josey-Bass.