I have been dabbling in learning theory for the past ten years. The undergrad degree I completed touched on learning theory. The grad degree I completed touched on learning theory. The EdS degree that I am pursuing touches on learning theory. And when I was an adjunct lecturer, I taught an instructional design class to undergrad students and learning theory was touched upon.

It is surprising to me that learning theory is not pounded into the heads of all students of education when in participating in formal education. As important as a thorough understanding is to designing sound instructional materials and to ensuring our students learn. Perhaps it falls into that realm of learner directed learning. And that it is the responsibility of those of us in this field to grasp these somewhat difficult concepts.

Karl Kapp, in his blog ‘Out and About: Discussion on Educational Schools of Thought’, simplifies matters when he describes the big three learning theories of behaviorism, constructivism and cognitivism. He states that that lower level learning, such as memorize, recognizing and labeling, requires a behaviorist approach. He also states that that procedural and rule-based learning requires an emphasis on cognitivism and problem-solving, collaboration and creativity require a view of constructivism.

To further confuse the issue of the big three, I have read scholarly articles where constructivism was described as a sub theory of cognitivism. My lack of a thorough understanding of learning theory is mitigated by the fact that the experts cannot agree on the definitions of learning theory.

Out and About: Discussion on Educational Schools of Thought http://www.uleduneering.com/kappnotes/index.php/2007/01/out-and-about-discussion-on-educational/