My Philosophy

Types of Learning Theories

• Behaviorism Learning Theory
• Cognitive Learning Theory
• Constructivism Learning Theory

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The theory I agree with is…

Personally, I agree with aspects from each of the three theories of learning. With the behaviorist approach I agree that there should be direct instruction to get a desired behavior from students. This is mostly when a teacher models an action and guides students towards the completion of the action. For the constructivism theory I agree that learning should be problem based, and focus on discovery learning. The learner should be able to learn about what they find interesting, not what they are told to learn about. However, that might not always be as easy as it sounds. The theory I most agree with is the cognitive learning theory. This is where students take what the already know and take things that they have just learned about a topic and combine them to create new ideas.The cognitive learning theory also focuses on the “meaning-making” aspect of learning and how students go through the process of analyzing information. One way teachers most incorporate this idea of learning into the classroom is by using “generative strategies such as annotating, summarizing, and paraphrasing a text”. Actions such as those are “cognitive strategies that require the learner to build relationships between new information and prior knowledge”.

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Activity Using the Cognitive Learning Theory

Going off of the example the article gave of using summaries and paraphrasing techniques, I would design an activity based on reading. The kids would have a book assigned for them to read. After every chapter or every few chapters the kids would have to write a list/summary for the main events that took place. The students could also write down any questions they have about characters, the setting, or the main events. After writing their list or summary, the student would then have to write a prediction as to what they think would happen next in the book. This prediction would allow them to incorporate the main ideas they just took note of and the previous events in the book to combine it with their own creative thinking to come up with new ideas as to what will happen in the future.