3 Learning Theories
Integrating with ICT
There are three major theories of learning; Behaviorism,
Constructivism, and Cognitivism. These views have heavily influenced
the development of educational software.
1. Behaviorism
Behaviorism equates learning with changes in either the form or
frequency of observable performance. Learning is accomplished when a proper
response is demonstrated following the presentation of a specific environmental
stimulus.
For example when presented a speaking skill with a power point media
showing “a picture of red apple”, the learners reply with the answer “A red
Apple”. The picture is stimulus and the proper answer “a red apple” is
associated response. The key elements are stimulus, the response and the
associated between the two.
Behaviorism focuses on the importance of consequences of those
performances and contends that responses that are followed by reinforcement are
more likely to recur in the future. No attempt is made to determine the
structure of student’s knowledge or to access which mental processes it is
necessary for them to use (Winn, 1990). The learner is characterized as being
reactive to condition in the environment as opposed to taking an active role in
discovering the environment.
Many of the basic assumptions and characteristic of behaviorism are
embedded in current instructional design practices. Behaviorism was used as the
basis for designing many of the early audio-visual materials and gives rise to
many related teaching strategies, such as Skinner’s teaching machine and
programmed text. More recent examples include principles utilized within
computer-assisted instruction (CAI) and mastery learning.
