Learning theories provide frameworks to understand how people learn. The main theories discussed are behaviorism, cognitivism, constructivism, social learning, and connectivism. Each theory emphasizes different factors that influence learning such as stimuli, mental processes, social interactions, and networking. Memory and transfer of learning also operate differently according to each theory. Technology can be used to support various aspects of each theory, such as simulations, games, social networking, and online collaboration. Understanding learning theories helps instructional designers develop effective learning experiences.

1. Learning Theories and
Instructional Design
By Christy Case
Walden University
EDUC 6115
Prof. Dr. Shirley Weaver
April 16, 2011
Go to Learning Matrix

2. Questions Behaviorism Cognitivism Constructivism Social Learning Connectivism Adult Learning
Interactions
How does learning Stimulus/Resp Transforming/R
occur? Self-led with Networking Self-directed
onse ehearsing
surroundings
Prior Social Individual
What factors Feedback/Rein Attention/Perce Language/Cult
influence learning? knowledge/envi networks/techn goals/life
forcement ption ure
ronmental ology impacts
Habitual via
What is the role of Self- Social Varies by
memory? stimulus/respo Rehearsal Networking
constructed Interaction learner choices
nse
Respect of
How does transfer Stimulus/Resp Social
occur? Repetition Participation Network nodes designers/educ
onse Interaction
ators
What types of
learning are best Knowledge/Ap Application/Ana Application/Ana Analysis/Synth
explained by this Knowledge All
plication lysis/Synthesis lysis/Synthesis esis
theory?
Screensharing/g
How is technology Live meeting Quia, Hot Social
roup Social Online/print/au
used for learning in virtual Potato, networks/compa
your industry? learning/online Networking dio/visual
platforms Articulate ny website
self-study
Learning Theories Matrix
Click on the Theory to See More Detail
References

3. Behaviorism - How Does
Learning Occur?
• Learners relate to physical/visible stimuli and
responses (Ormrod, 2011)
• Learned habits (Standridge, 2001)

4. Behaviorism - What Factors
Influence Learning?
• Sequencing
• Feedback/Reinforcem
ent (Standridge,
2001)

5. Behaviorism - What is the
Role of Memory?
• Mind remembers responses to stimuli which
encourages or discourages behaviors until
the habit is formed

6. Behaviorism - How Does
Transfer Occur?
• Through stimulus and
response

7. Behaviorism - What Types of
Learning are Best
Explained?
• Knowledge and
application - forming
habits allows for easy
recall
(remembering/knowledg
e) and for ease of
application

8. Behaviorism - How is
Technology Used for Learning in
My Industry?
• In design, focusing on objectives to start
the design process is key to a strong
program
• Objectives are presented throughout
materials but are reinforced through
instructors through a virtual learning
platform of live online meetings
• Examples of live platforms that could be
used are Adobe Connect Pro, Centra,
Windows Live Meeting, Web Ex,
Elluminate, Go To Training/Meeting Go to Learning Matrix

9. Cognitivism - How Does
Learning Occur?
• Connecting to what is already known
• Mental organization
• Transforming and rehearsing
• Internal mental processes; the mental
process between stimuli and response
(Ormrod, 2009)

10. Cognitivism - What Factors
Influence Learning?
• Attention
• Perception
• Mental Processes

11. Cognitivism - What is the
Role of Memory?
• Many theories of how memory
works within cognitivism exist: two-
store, levels of processing,
activation level, to name a few
• All theories associated with
cognitivism agree that rehearsal is
the key to remembering starting
with encoding, storage, and then
retrieval

12. Cognitivism - How Does
Transfer Occur?
• Through repetition, knowledge transfers to
long-term memory and the learner is able to
recall those memories

13. Cognitivism - What Types of
Learning are Best
Explained?
• Knowledge
(remembering
information) is very well
explained by cognitivism -
repetition increases
learners ability to recall
(remember)

14. Cognitivism - How is Technology
Used for Learning in My
Industry?
• Various programs assist with development of
learning games that help connect prior
knowledge to current application
• Examples: Quia (online learning game
program), Hot Potato (creates flash games
that can be loaded to various virtual learning
platforms), Articulate (create flash
presentations with learning games
embedded)
Go to Learning Matrix

15. Constructivism- How Does
Learning Occur?
• Learning is self-led
• Learners construct theories of knowledge
and know truths only by what they construct
through their self-led instruction guided by
their theories (Ormrod, 2009)

16. Constructivism - What
Factors Influence Learning?
• Exogenous - world influences - exposure to
various experiences
• Endogenous - previously acquired
knowledge
• Dialectical - interactions with environment

17. Constructivism - What is the
Role of Memory?
• Learners tend to remember more if they
construct the knowledge themselves
• Memory is produced by mixing prior
knowledge with current context

18. Constructivism - How Does
Transfer Occur?
• The learner strives to acquire knowledge and
through asking questions of their own
knowledge, increases knowledge
• Assisted with group and individual projects
that are not necessarily instructor led

19. Constructivism - What Types
of Learning are Best
Explained?
• Application, Analysis, and
Synthesis can be
explained by
constructivism
• Topics that are vague
and social in nature are
explained well with
constructivist theories

20. Constructivism - How is
Technology Used for Learning in
My Industry?
• Screensharing capabilities (allow learners to
control screen to apply instruction)
• Small groups (available in various virtual
learning platforms)
• Self-study via online courses (various LMS
systems available for this - Facebook can be
used as an LMS as well)
Go to Learning Matrix

21. Social Learning - How Does
Learning Occur?
• Through interactions with other people,
cultures, and individual experience per
Vygotsky (Ormrod, 2009)

22. Social Learning - What
Factors Influence Learning?
• Language
• Cultural institutions
• Cultural objects

23. Social Learning - What is the
Role of Memory?
• Memories are more easily recalled if
connected to a social interaction

24. Social Learning - How Does
Transfer Occur?
• Social interactions with tools, objects,
people, adult/child, etc.

25. Social Learning - What Types
of Learning are Best
Explained?
• Like Constructivism:
Application, Analysis,
and Synthesis
• Topics that are vague
and social in nature are
explained well with
constructivist theories

26. Social Learning - How is
Technology Used for Learning in
My Industry?
• Social Networking (Ning, Facebook, Twitter)
• Blogging
• LMS forums
• Company forums
Go to Learning Matrix

27. Connectivism - How Does
Learning Occur?
• Via networking - receiving and sharing alike
• Technology and visualization

28. Connectivism - What Factors
Influence Learning?
• Social networks and diversity of opinions
without those networks
• Technologies
• Overall learning environment (Siemens,
2011)

29. Connectivism - What is the
Role of Memory?
• Memory is defined by connection of
nodes - networking
• Patterning
• Memory may be non-human - stored in
an appliance (Davis, 2008)

30. Connectivism - How Does
Transfer Occur?
• Connections to nodes within the learners
network (Davis, 2008)

31. Connectivism - What Types
of Learning are Best
Explained?
• Analysis and synthesis
• More complex topics
• Topics that are rapidly
changing like the
technology that defines
the theory (Davis, 2008)

32. Connectivism - How is
Technology Used for Learning in
My Industry?
• Social Networking (i.e. Facebook, Twitter,
LinkedIn)
• LMS Forums
• Company website
Go to Learning Matrix

33. Adult Learning - How Does
Learning Occur?
•Self-directed
•Through participation starting with determining
topics through final results
•(Lieb, 1991)

34. Adult Learning - What
Factors Influence Learning?
• Educational goals
• Work goals
• Life impact

35. Adult Learning - What is the
Role of Memory?
• Memories are developed using a variety of
skills based on learners choices

36. Adult Learning - How Does
Transfer Occur?
• Via respect from instructors and designers
regarding learners desire to learn

37. Adult Learning - What Types
of Learning are Best
Explained?
• All types of learning can
be associated with adult
learning.

38. Adult Learning - How is
Technology Used for Learning in
My Industry?
• Online LMS
• Social Learning (i.e. Facebook, Twitter,
blogs, forums)
• Audiobooks
• Videos
• Print (offered online also as PDF)
Go to Learning Matrix

39. References
• Davis, C., Edmunds, E., & Kelly-Bateman, V. (2008). Connectivism. In M. Orey (Ed.), Emerging perspectives on learning, teaching,
and technology. Retrieved on April 16, 2011 from http://projects.coe.uga.edu/epltt/index.php?title=Connectivism
• Kerr, Bill. (2001). _isms a filter, not a blinker. Bill Kerr Blog. Retrieved on April 16, 2011 from
http://billkerr2.blogspot.com/2007/01/isms-as-filter-not-blinker.html
• Lieb, Stephen. (1991). Principles of Adult Learning. VISION. Retrieved on April 16, 2011 from
http://honolulu.hawaii.edu/intranet/committees/FacDevCom/guidebk/teachtip/adults-2.htm.
• Ormrod, Jeanne. (2011). Behaviorism and Instructional Design. Video for Walden University.
• Ormrod, J., Schunk, D., & Gredler, M. (2009). Learning theories and instruction (Laureate custom edition). New York: Pearson.
• Siemens, George. (2011). Connectivism. Video for Walden University.
• Standridge, M. (2001). Behaviorism. In M. Orey (Ed.), Emerging perspectives on learning, teaching, and technology. Retrieved on
April 16, 2011 from http://projects.coe.uga.edu/epltt/index.php?title=Behaviorism