Learning theories are defined as aspects of how and where knowledge is acquired and how it is/isn’t accessed.  They can are most often divided into behaviourism, cognitivism and constructivism (with a further delineation to connectivism).  These learning theories also guide how instructors present information, the structure of courses, and how students engage with the subject matter.  In the most basic of terms, behaviourism can be used to teach facts (the what), cognitivism the processes and principles (the how) and constructivism the higher-level thinking, personal meaning and context (the why).  It is common for most courses to have elements of each theory, but there has been a movement away from behaviourism towards constructivism.

The course I am auditing possesses elements of each of the four theories.  It demonstrates behaviourism through the presentation of clear outcomes and expectations and quizzes to monitor progress.  The majority of the course lies firmly within the theory of cognitivism.  Prior knowledge is activated through the inclusion of pre-instructional questions within the quizzes that precede each section.  Sections are also chunked thematically with varied delivery through text and videos.  Reflections are encouraged in the discussions of each section which encourages collaboration, aligning with the theory of constructivism.  The self-paced nature of the course places a fair amount of control within the hands of the learner.  The final theory that is demonstrated within the course is connectivism, which is shown through the exploration of current information, encouraging autonomy over the acquisition of new information and connecting to other students around the world.

 

References

Ally, M. (2008). Foundations of educational theory for online learning. In T. Anderson (Ed.). The theory and practice of online learning (pp.15-44) Athabasca, AB: Athabasca University Press.

Carleton University. (2017). Theories of learning [Video file].