Behaviorism is a world view that assumes the learner is essentially passive,
responding to environmental stimuli. This perspective emerged in the early 1900’s
through the research effort of IVAN PAVLOV and EDWARD THORNDIKE who made
more objective studies about learning as opposed to the studies on learning which
relied heavily on introspection.
Behavior is learned or shaped through positive reinforcement. Behaviorism advances
the idea that when a cue or stimulus in the environment is presented, the individual
makes a particular response to the stimulus.
Behaviorism is a world view that operates on the principles of “stimulus-response”.
All behavior can be explained without the need to consider the internal mental
states or consciousness. Behaviorism instruction, however does not prepare the
learners for problem solving which currently is the skill being developed among
learners for survival.
This is because behaviorism looks at the learner as a passive learner. Learning is promoted by
environmental factors like reinforcements, feedback, practice or repetition.
This are the following basic assumption of behaviorism, which many behaviorists share;
a) principles of learning should apply equally to different behaviors and to a variety of
animal species. This is on the assumptions that human and other animals learn in similar
ways.
b) Learning involves a behavior change.
c) Organisms are born “ blank slates”.
d) Learning is largely the results of environmental events.
e) The most useful theories tend to be parsimonious for concise.
The areas of application of theories under behaviorism are listed below;
a) Drill/Rote work
b) Repetitive practice
c) Giving bonus points
d) Giving participation points
e) Verbal reinforcements
f) Establishing rules
g) Giving of rewards
h) Applying punishments
i) Giving feedback
j) Positive reinforcement
k) Token reinforcers
l) Negative reinforcement
The cognitive revolution in the late 1950’s to 1960’s replaced behaviorism as the
dominant paradigm for learning. The human mind is seen as “ black box” and it is
necessary to open it for better understanding of how people learn.
Mental processes such as;
a. memory
b. knowing
c. problem solving
d. reasoning
And other such as processes need to be explored.
Cognitivism requires active participation in order to learn and actions are seen as a
result of thinking. Changes in behavior are observed but this only indicates what is going
on in the learner’s head. The learners mind is compared to a computer which does a lot
of processing of the data fed into it.
Learning is thought of an internal process rather than simply dealing with or responding to
external stimuli. Learning involves the reorganization of experiences, either by attaining new
insights or changing old ones. Thus, learning is a change in knowledge which is stored in memory
and not just a change in behavior.
Examples and applications of the cognitive learning theory;
a) classifying or Chunking information
b) Linking concepts
c) Providing structure
d) Real world examples
e) Discussions
f) Problem solving
g) Analogies
h) Imagery/providing pictures
i) Mnemonics
As a worldview or paradigm that emerge in 1970’s and 1980’s, it points that learning is an
active constructive process. The learner himself construct a knowledge. Learning is seen as
an active contextualized process of constructing knowledge instead of simply acquiring it.
Each person may have different interpretation and construction of the knowledge process.
Thus, a simple task of listening to a lecture involves active attempts to construct new
knowledge and not just absorbing what is being said in the lecture. Each person generates
knowledge based on his previous experiences of knowledge.
Thus, learning is adjusting to one’s mental models to accommodate new experiences. The
theory is about preparing the individual to solve problems. Thus, the individual needs to
have a wide and significant base of knowledge upon which to create and interpret ideas. It
may be said that result may not be the same because learners create their own ideas and
thus, maybe unique to the individual person.
So constructivism does not work when results are expectedly fixed or consistent.
The following are some applications of social constructivism;
a) case studies
b) Research projects
c) Problem solving
d) Brainstorming
e) Collaborative learning/ group work
f) Discovery learning
g) Simulations
The application of social constructivism show that class activities which require the
participation of contributions of many learners in a task enables learning to occur.
The table below presents some salient points about the above- mentioned theories of
learning considered as basic to the further study of learning.
Behaviorism Cognitive Constructivism Social Constructivism
Knowledge is a repertoire Knowledge system of Knowledge is constructed
View of Knowledge of behavioral responses to cognitive structures are within social contexts
environmental stimuli. actively constructed by through interactors with a
learners based on cognitive knowledge community .
structures.
Passive absorption of a Active assimilations and Integration of students into
View of Learning predefined body of accommodation of new a knowledge community.
knowledge by the learner. information to existing Collaborative assimilation
Promoted by repetition and cognitive structures and accommodation of new
positive reinforcements. discovery by learners. information.
Extrinsic, involving positive Intrinsic, learners set their Intrinsic and Extrinsic,
View of Motivation and negative own goals and motivate learning goals and motives
reinforcements. themselves to learn. are determined both by
learners and extrinsic
reward provided by the
knowledge community.
Correct behavioral Teacher facilitates learning Collaborative learning is
Implication for Teaching responses are transmitted by providing an facilitated and guided by
by teachers and absolutely environment that promotes teacher. Group work
by students. discovery and
