This presentation reviews the history of constructivism, cognitivism, and behaviorism and how these theories are applied in today's classrooms.

1. Constructivism, Cognitivism, and
Behaviorism
Group 2
Kellie DeShaw
Ellie Beaver
Angela Tipton
Erin Oldson

2. Constructivism Theory
● The Constructivism Theory explains how people might acquire knowledge
and learn.
● Learning is an active process rather than a passive process.
○ Learners construct meaning only through active engagement with the
world
■ Experiments or real-world problem solving
● All knowledge is socially constructed
○ Learning is a social activity
● All knowledge is personal
○ Each learner has a distinctive point of view, based on existing knowledge and values

3. Constructivism
Theory
History

4. Uses of Constructivism
● The role of a teacher isn’t so much to lecture at students but to act as an
expert learner who can guide students into cognitive strategies.
● Activities are student-centered and students are encouraged to ask their own
questions and come to their own conclusions.
● Students should be exposed to data, and the ability to interact with other
students.
● The teacher needs to have constant conversation with student.

5. Cognitivism Theory
Cognitivism theory suggests that learning takes place through mental actions that
are influenced by one’s own thoughts and experiences.
Metacognitive strategies being taught in the classroom will build students self-
efficacy skills, which leads to higher academic achievement.
Cognitive assessments might include IQ tests, achievement tests, or learning
styles tests.
Trends associated with Cognitivism include: connecting to prior knowledge, using
analogies and metaphors, mnemonics, concept mapping, graphic organizers,

6. Cognitivism History
Mid to Late 1900s:
Cognitivism begins to
majorly develop due to
work by Piaget,
Vygotsky, and
Bandura, developing
models to explain and
greatly impact
education.
1950s & 1960s: The
cognitive revolution.
This theory was
against behaviorism.
Theorists stated that
“humans are active
processors of
information, based on
‘human perception,
thought, and memory’”
(Paciotti, 2013, p. 105).
During the mid 20th
century, the cognitive
perspective began to
form due to knowledge
gained from research
during WWII, advances
of the computer age,
and new language
acquisition theories.

7. Cognitivism Developments and Evolution
Piaget’s
Developmental
Stage Model:
- Sensorimotor
stage (0-2 yrs old)
- Preoperational
stage (2-7 yrs old)
- Concrete
operational stage
(7-11 yrs old)
- Formal
operational stage
(11-adult)
Vygotskyan
Sociocultural
Cognitive
Model:
- Identifies the
level in which
the child can
learn
- Proximal
development
- Use of
scaffolding to
model and
provide social
interaction to
learn
Bandura’s
Social
Cognitive
Theory:
- Self-efficacy
is important
and needs to
be developed
Information
Processing
Cognitive
Model:
- Memory (short
term and long
term)
- Store more
information
through
chunking,
mental rehearsal
Metacognition
Cognitive
Model:
- Thinking
about your own
thinking
- Best
strategies to
use to gain
knowledge

8. Multiculturalism Theory
- Multiculturalism in Education promotes the language and culture of students
- Students will use their background knowledge and home language to connect
to new language and content

9. Multicultural Education History
1946
Mendez vs.
Westminister
Prohibited segregation
of Mexicans from
Americans in California.
Brown vs. Board of
Education
Prohibited segregation
of African Americans
and Whites in schools.
1954
Civil Rights Act of
1964
Requires equal
opportunities for all
students
1964
Bilingual Education
Act
Gives extra supports to
students that speak
English vas a second
language.
1968
Diana vs. California
Board of Education
Requires that education
testing must be done in a
student’s native
language..
1970
Title IX
Prohibited discrimination
on the basis of sex,
gender, language.
1972
NCATE Requirements
Required affiliated institution
to provide multicultural
courses or programs for
teacher education.
1977

10. Multicultural Education
Multicultural education has not always looked the same or been in support of the
same people (based on history):
-In California specifically, they were in support of Spanish-speaking Mexican students
to be integrated while in the U.S. African Americans were still segregated
-10 years later, U.S. finally integrated all races
-Another 10 years later, Hispanics are given extra support to learn English and be
successful in schools, both in their general classroom as well as within the
boundaries of Special Education
-A few years later, the lens of “minorities” stretched from just race & language, to
sexual orientation and gender, trying to spread equality to other marginalized groups
-Finally, after all of the changes happening in actual schools, NCATE mandated the
teaching of multicultural education to preservice teachers (80% of U.S. institutions)

11. Multicultural Education Uses
-May see models in immersion/bilingual schools, dual language programs, or
public schools with highly diverse needs
-Schools or programs within schools that serve minority students (students with
disabilities, LGBQT club, ESL classes or newcomer programs would have
evidence of this
-Teachers model language and guide students to make connections between their
languages when possible
-Teaches students to understand culture and language through a lens of positivity
-Allows schools to display their acceptance of the entire community equally

12. Behaviorism
● Focuses on observable and predictable
behaviors
● Students will produce desired behaviors as a
response to their environment

13. Evolution of Behaviorism
Associationism (1887-1930) - Ivan Pavlov - Classical Conditioning -
experimented mostly with animals but moved to humans - ex. Bell signals
students to stand for pledge
Neobehaviorism (1930-1960) - Operational models - examined motivation of
behavior - foundation for operant conditioning
Sociobehaviorism (1960-Present) - B.F. Skinner- Examined behaviors in
relationship to the environment - introduced concept of operant conditioning -
positive and negative reinforcements and punishments - argued that thinking and
feeling are internal, observable behaviors

14. Behaviorism - Classical and Operant
Conditioning
● Classical Conditioning: Natural response to a stimulus
Ex.: Crying from fear of failure when given a test
● Operant Conditioning: Response to a stimulus is reinforced
Ex: Receiving a piece of a candy when participating in
discussion or reprimanding a student when off-task

15. Instruments Associated with Behaviorism
1. Direct Observation
2. Self-Report
3. Interviews
4. Questionnaires
Behaviorism Trends in Today’s Classrooms
1. Classroom Economy System
2. Class Dojo
3. PBIS
4. Sticker Charts