Behaviorism and Cognitivism Learning Theories

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Behaviorism and Cognitivism Learning Theories

• John B Watson, Behaviorism Theorist
• Given credit for popular term Behaviorism
• Urged scientific study of observable behaviors
• View of Behaviorism was a reaction to
  introspection (researchers using selves as
  research subjects) and Freuds study of
  consciousness
• Little Albert Study pairing neutral stimulus
  (white furry rabbit) and unconditioned stimulus
  (loud noise) created fear as a response when
  showing a white furry rabbit to 9 month old child
  

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Robert Gagne, Cognitive Theorist

• Famous for his Conditions of Learning
• Nine Events of Instruction gain attention,
  inform student of objectives, stimulate
  recollection of prior learning, present stimulus
  material, provide student guidance, elicit
  performance, provide feedback, assess
  performance, enhance retention transfer
• His work also known as Gagnes assumption
  Different types of learning exist due to
  conditions in instructional environment

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Behaviorism Learning Theory

• Student is passive, responding to environmental
  stimuli
• Clean slate (tabula rasa) behavior shaped by
  positive or negative reinforcement/punishment
• Reinforcement increases likelihood of behavior
  re-occurring
• Punishment decreases likelihood of behavior
  re-occurring

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Cognitive Learning Theory

• Mind is compared to a computer information goes
  in and is processed
• Focuses on inner mental activities opening the
  black box of the human mind is important in
  understanding how we learn
• Mental processes need exploration thinking,
  learning, remembering, problem solving
• Learning is defined as changing a persons
  schema, or knowledge

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Cognitive Learning Theory

• Students are not considered programmed animals
  like they are in Behaviorism
• We are rational beings that need to actively
  participate in order to learn
• Actions are results of thinking
• Behavioral changes show what is going on in a
  students mind

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How Behaviorism and Cognitivism Impact Teaching

• Both theories are used to help determine how
  students learn
• Behaviorism Students learn by changing
  behaviors in response to environmental stimuli
• Cognitivism Students learn by actively
  participating in the learning exercises, focus on
  mental processes

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Applicability of Behaviorism for Teaching

• Not as widely used as it was in early 1900s
• Students learning by changing behaviors in
  response to stimuli not as effective as in the
  past
• Does not take into account mental processes
  thinking, problem solving, remembering

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Applicability of Cognitivism in Teaching

• Students learn better by actively participating
• Focuses on knowledge, problem solving,
  understanding

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• Works Cited
• Behaviorism. (n.d.). Retrieved October 11, 2008,
  from Learning-Theories.com. Website
  http//www.learning-theories.com/behaviorism.html
• Cognitivism. (n.d.). Retrieved October 11, 2008,
  from Learning-Theories.com. Website
  http//www.learning-theories.com/cognitivism.html
• Cognitivism vs. Behaviorism in Learning Theory.
  (n.d.). Retrieved October 12, 2008, from
  greenspun.com. Website http//hv.greenspun.com/b
  board/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id0056KI
• Plucker, Jonathan. (n.d.). John B. Watson (1878
  1958) Popularizing Behaviorism, The Little
  Albert Study, The Dozen healthy Infants, Life
  After the University. Retrieved October 12, 2008,
  from Education Encyclopedia StateUniversity.com.
  Website http//education.stateuniversity.com/pag
  es/2543/Watson-John-B-1878-1958.html.
• Robert M. Gagne. (n.d.). Retrieved October 12,
  2008, from Wikipedia. Website http//en.wikipedia
  .org/wiki/Robert_M_GagnC3A9.