Behaviorism and Cognitivism Learning Theories

1. 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 Freud’s 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

2. 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 Gagn’es assumption – Different types of learning exist due to conditions in instructional environment

3. 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

4. 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 person’s schema, or knowledge

5. 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 student’s mind

6. 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

7. Applicability of Behaviorism for Teaching • Not as widely used as it was in early 1900’s • 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

8. Applicability of Cognitivism in Teaching • Students learn better by actively participating • Focuses on knowledge, problem solving, understanding

9. 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/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=0056KI 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/pages/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_Gagn%C3%A9.