Blog Post #1

How would the learning be designed differently by a behaviorist, a cognitivist, and a constructivist?

In today’s dynamic educational landscape, understanding various learning theories is crucial for educators to design effective and engaging lessons. When it comes to teaching a complex and pressing topic like climate change, the learning experience can be enriched by adopting different approaches. In this blog post, I will explore how a behaviorist, a cognitivist, and a constructivist would design the learning experience for a high school studies class focused on climate change.

Behaviorist:

In behaviorism, learning is considered successful when a person displays the correct response after being exposed to a specific trigger, referred to as a stimulus. The goal of behaviorism is to learn by providing an appropriate response to the stimulus. To improve on behaviorism learning techniques, it’s important to focus on the relation between the stimulus and the response and how it can be made, maintained, or strengthened.

A behaviorist educator would emphasize observable behaviors and conditioning. A behaviorist-focused teacher could create a structured environment, employing techniques such as rewards to shape student behavior. Their learning experience would involve clear objectives, measurable outcomes, and repetition of key concepts. In the context of teaching climate change, a behaviorist teacher might utilize worksheets, quizzes, and direct instruction to convey factual information, reinforcing correct responses with positive reinforcement.

Cognitivist Approach:

In cognitivism, learning is seen as a discrete change in a student’s individual knowledge, rather than changes in the probability of their responses to stimuli. The focus is on understanding how learners’ minds conceptualize the learning process and how information is received, organized, stored, and retrieved from a student’s mental framework.

A cognitivist educator would focus on the mental processes of learning, including perception, memory, and problem-solving. A cognitivist teacher would engage students in activities that promote active thinking and reflection. They may use multimedia resources, interactive discussions, and group projects to facilitate knowledge construction. In the context of teaching climate change, a teacher could have students analyze data and evaluate evidence to develop their understanding of climate change through inquiry-based learning.

Constructivist Approach:

In constructivism, learning is the process of creating meaning from personal experiences. Constructivism believes the mind filters incoming information from the world to create its own reality. Unlike cognitivists and behaviorists, constructivists do not hold the belief that knowledge exists independently in the mind. They argue that what we know about the world derives from students’ interpretations of their experiences.

A Constructivist educator would focus on learning as an active process where learners construct knowledge based on their experiences and interaction with the world. A constructivist teacher would provide opportunities for students to explore multiple perspectives, encouraging them to develop their own understanding of certain topics. In the context of teaching climate change, an educator might have students engage in debates, simulations, or field trips connecting climate change to real-world scenarios.

Conclusion:

Behaviorism, cognitivism, and constructivism share many similarities but their distinctions are key to developing instructional design. In my personal experiences, I have found that a constructivism learning approach has helped me learn the best. I personally enjoy learning by doing and creating experiences to gain knowledge. I also found a quick video that helped me visualize the three learning types and break it down in a simple way.

1 Comment

  1. Anastassiya

    Hi Reid! I just wanted to thank you for sharing your insights on designing climate change lessons from different theoretical perspectives. Your suggestions were really informative and applicable to each of the theories you discussed. I appreciate your thoughtful approach to this important topic.

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