To achieve a goal of optimized learning, the need to bridge the learning research and theories with actual educational practice is significant during the process of learning. According to the article of Ertmer et al., learning theories are ‘a source of verified instructional strategies, tactics and techniques’ that could be selected by learners in order to achieve the goal (n.d.). Three learning theories are introduced in the article, behaviorism, cognitivism and constructivism, which each is designed differently. For behaviorism, it is a learning strategy by accomplishing a proper response following an environmental stimulus and guide from cues. For example, under a context of a high school social study teacher is planning a class on climate change, the command of planning a climate change class is the environmental stimulus, the past climate change class materials are the representation of cues, allowing learners to follow the cues to gradually respond properly to the class. Cognitivism is a strategy that acquires knowledge and operates learning mentally, which focuses on the process of receiving, organizing, storing, and retrieved by mind (Ertmer et al.,n.d.). Take the climate change class as an example, if learners would like to learn more about environment change using cognitivism, they may simplify knowledge by analyzing and digesting the class content and standardize knowledge by integrating information to learn as much as possible. Finally, constructivism is an approach to create meanings from their own experience, without a pre-determined learning goal (Ertmer et al.,n.d). In the context of planning a class of climate change, instead of having a clear goal of learning about the actual climate change knowledge, the learning is more flexible and focuses on what the class material could reflect and mean to them about their past experiences, such as learners’ own comprehend from the combination of the climate change class and their related past experience.
I have learning experience that uses all three strategies. I usually use behaviorism when I write a research paper. The title of paper is the environmental stimulus, and the cues are research references I found, which guides me to properly respond to the paper title. I use cognitivism when I review the class content, which enables me to assihilitate and memorize as much as knowledge by the process of analyzing, digesting and finally integrating the class content. I use constructivism in some inspiration learning, such as listening to a Tedtalk speech. I do not have a clear goal of what should I learn, but open myself to inspiration and create meanings by reflecting my own experience.
Currently, my instruction style is more cognitivism since an effective learning process is an important factor for successful learning result. For example, during the senior undergraduate year, most of the assignments and exams require us to fully understand and critically think about the content and write reflections, so focusing on analyzing and integrating knowledge is helpful for me to learn more objectively and comprehensively.
Reference:
Ertmer, P. A., Newby, T., Ertmer, Newby, & West, R. E. (n.d.-a). Behaviorism, Cognitivism, Constructivism. edtechbooks.org. https://edtechbooks.org/lidtfoundations/behaviorism_cognitivism_constructivism
Comment on Aizhou Liu’s Blog #1:
Blog Post #1 – Learning, Motivation, and Theory With Comments
Hi Angel!
I really enjoy reading your posts and think it is insightful! I had a very similar perspective to you about the three learning strategies, especially for constructivism, which is a strategy for learners to make interactions with learning materials and create meanings based on their own experiences, for example, a Tedtalk presentation is a good way for constructivism learning since it can inspire learners to look back their past experience and create their own reflections.
Wanqin Jiang
28 May 2023 at 7:37 pm
Thank you for sharing your insights on applying behaviorism, cognitivism, and constructivism in your learning experiences. Seeing how you’ve utilized each strategy in different contexts is interesting. It’s great to hear you embrace constructivism during inspiration-based learning, such as listening to a TED Talk. Allowing yourself to be open to inspiration and creating meaning based on personal experiences can lead to valuable insights and connections.
29 May 2023 at 12:18 am
Hi Wanqin,
Thanks for sharing your fantastic post! I strongly agree that bridging the learning research and theories with actual educational practice is significant in improving the learning process because different learning theories present various styles of learning processes which fit different types of learners. The major application of learning theory is customizing the learning processes for diverse individuals, increasing their motivation to study new knowledge and changing their minds, and finally reducing their confirmation bias and consolidating their knowledge bases. The higher the motivation is, the more engagement the learners present, and a more effective learning process could be conducted. Therefore, learning theory also plays an essential role in raising motivation. As you mentioned, “learning strategy by accomplishing a proper response following an environmental stimulus and guide from cues,” I feel connected with your opinion and the example from my work. When the teacher awards the students who got good grades on their tests, all the students obtain a cue that good performance on the test equals the award. Therefore, they are guided and stimulated by the cue to perform the behaviors such as hard-working on the study in order to achieve the goal of getting the award.
Thanks!
Angel Liu
29 May 2023 at 11:06 am
Dear Wanqin, I’d like to say that your idea is the same as mine. When I decide to write an essay or paper, I always make a proposal for myself, and that is very helpful.