Reflection 1: Learning Theories

Learning Theories

A quick review of the lesson during Week 2 (14/02/2017)

*Oh ya, it was Valentine's Day by the way... 💖

So, let's begin! 😎

The lecture started by letting us to discover 8 different psychologists and to differentiate them into the correct category perspective of learning theory foundations by their respective theory. There are 2 perspectives of learning theory foundations which are: 

• Directed/Objectivism - learn in the classroom/rigid
• Constructivism - constructive learning by observing and solving task

Let's begin with some basic background information of the 8 different psychologists before categorizing them into their perspectives of learning theory foundations. Below are the 8 different psychologists that were discussed in the class.

B. F. Skinner (1904 - 1990)

1. Burrhus Frederic Skinner usually known as B. F. Skinner or Skinner, was an American psychologist, behaviorist and social philosopher. He developed the theory of Operant Behaviour and Conditioning. In other words, it is a direct teaching and learning theory. While behaviours are usually shaped by reinforcement, thus, Skinner's theory states that the process does not require repeated efforts, but is instead an immediate reaction to a familiar stimulus.

For example, when children scored well in the exam, parents usually do compliment them and reward them by fulling their wish. If, on the other hand, children did not scored well in their exam, they would get punished either by their teacher or parents (or both).

In conclusion, learning is shown in change in behaviours like the example above indicates when children have been rewarded from their previous behaviour, they will be most likely to repeat it again.

Behaviorist Theory; Directed/Objectivism

Richard Atkinson and Richard Shriffin

2. Atkinson and Shriffin both developed the Atkinson-Shriffin Model. This model basically explains how memory processes work. It also claims that human memory has 3 separate components which are:

• Sensory Register - where sensory enters memory 
• Short-Term Memory - memory which remains between 30 seconds and several days
• Long-Term Memory - memory, such as, events, facts or experiences that were laid down weeks, months or even years ago.

In this case, learning is encoding information in memory.

Information-Processing Theory; Directed/Objectivism 

Robert M. Gagné (1916 - 2002)

3. Robert Mills Gagné commonly known as Robert Gagné or Gagné, was an American educational psychologist. He was best known for his "Conditions of Learning". This theory formulates several different types of learning. The significance of these classifications is that different kinds of skills require different conditions. 

In addition, the theory outlines Nine Events of Learning and learning in hierarchies.

1. Gaining attention (reception)
2. Informing learners of the objective (expectancy)
3. Stimulating recall of prior learning (retrieval)
4. Presenting the stimulus (selective perception)
5. Providing learning guidance (semantic encoding)
6. Eliciting performance (responding)
7. Providing feedback (reinforcement)
8. Assessing performance (retrieval)
9. Enhancing retention and transfer (generalization).

Overall, Gagné's theory is similar as Skinner's which learning shaped by optimal conditions.

Cognitive-Behavioral Theory; Directed/Objectivism

John Dewey (1859 - 1952)

4. John Dewey, was an American philosopher, psychologist, and educational reformer. He believed that learning requires "hands-on" approach or the individual social experience from the world. In this situation, Dewey is placed in the educational philosophy of pragmatism which pragmatists believe that learning is shaped by individual experiences.

Social Activism Theory; Constructivism 

Albert Bandura (1925 - )

5. Albert Bandura developed a theory which assumes people learn from one another through observation, imitation, and modelling. The theory indicates that learning results from interactions of behaviors, environment, and personal factors. Furthermore, motivation is shaped by self-efficacy. To conclude this, Bandura's theory explains learning depends on social influences.

Social Cognitive Theory; Constructivism 

Lev S. Vygotsky (1896 - 1934)

6. Lev Semyonovich Vygotsky also known as Lev Vygotsky or Vygotsky, was a Soviet psychologist. He has developed a sociocultural approach to cognitive development. His theory stresses the fundamental role of social interaction in the development of cognition which may be shaped by individual experience and culture, as he believed strongly that teaching is important before actually using and acquiring that skill.

Scaffolding Theory; Constructivism

Jean Piaget (1896 - 1980)

7. Jean Piaget was a Swiss clinical psychologist. Unlike Vygotsky, Piaget argued that childrens' development must necessarily precede their learning. He believed that children learn by assimilation, accomodation. They will then construct an understanding of the world around them, experience discrepancies between what they already know and what they discover in their environment. 

Child Development Theory; Constructivism 

Jerome S. Bruner (1915 - 2016)

8. Jerome Seymour Bruner was an American psychologist that claimed learning is an active process in which learners construct new ideas or concepts based upon their knowledge. In addition, he said that children remember better when they discover concepts themselves since learning is cognitive growth through interaction with the environment.  

Discovery Learning; Constructivism

Last but not least, a little extra from the moodle.

Howard E. Gardner (1943 - )

9. Howard Earl Gardner, is an American developmental psychologist. According to him, humans have several different ways of processing information and these ways are relatively independent of one another. Moreover, he has identified 9 kinds of intelligence include:

• Linguistic
• Musical
• Logical-mathematical
• Spatial
• Bodily-kinaesthetic
• Intrapersonal
• Interpersonal
• Naturalist 

Lastly, he mentioned that learning is shaped by innate intelligences. 

Multiple Intelligences Theories; Constructivism


Before ending up, I would like to share a bit of my experience. From my personal experience, I was used to learn under the environment of direct teaching and learning with the "reward" system. This has to be similar with Skinner's theory. However, as I grown up and by gaining experiences, I am a person who are more applicable and suitable to Vygotsky's theory because I would prefer to have someone to teach me first before letting me to discover it on my own. Anyway, I believe that different people tend to adapt with different theory. Finally, if I would become a lecturer in the future, I think I would use a combination of Dewey and Vygotsky's theory and apply them to the students.