Learning Theories

  • Skinner's Behaviorist Learning Perspective

    1. Human learning is not automatic and unintentional; people operate on their environment to produce learning (p. 9).
    2. Strenths: Steps are small and rewards are given which allow student time to master. Small steps are managable. Weakenesses:It is skill-based, and with little concern for social or other developments which are also important.
    3. Interesting that they said rewards are given, this sounds great, but I wonder what kind of rewards?
  • Montessori's Method of Instruction

    1. This method uses the child's senses to help them learn (p. 11).
    2. Strengths:Involves a lot of teacher modeling which is helpful. THe teacher is the guide to learning. Weaknesses: Some students have sensory disorders, and I wonder if this would be an issue? Also focuses on independent learning which might not always be helpful.
    3. Interesting that this method doesn't revolve around play (as I had assumed) but rather along order and systematic training.
  • Piaget's Theory of Cognitive Development

    1. Describes the intellectual capabilities of children at their different stages of cognitive development (p.12).
    2. Strengths: Gives teachers and parents an idea of where there student should be developmentally. Weaknesses: Not all children follow these age groups and may develop early or late.
    3. It is interesting that Piaget believed that children learned by interacting with the world.
  • Vygotsky's General Theory of Intellectual Development

    1. Learning occurs as students aquire new concepts or schema (p. 13).
    2. Strengths: All learning is interconnected through schema and may be easy for the students to relate to it. Weaknesses: Skills are aquired through social relationships, and the student may struggle with this.
    3. The text mentions that students who can tell the difference between scribbles and pictures already has a sense of the difference between text and illustrations. This is interesting to me because of the complexity