Methods of Learning

Sharida Newton
 Learning Theories
Constructivism Students learn by generating
their own knowledge.

Students enhance retention of

Behaviorism information with reinforcement.
Alter behavior

Encourage students to use

Cognitivism appropriate learning strategies
using organization and feedback.
When Constructivism is Beneficial for Learners

✔You want the learners to generate their own

knowledge.
✔You want the learners to generate knowledge from
experience.

✔You want the learners to be at the center of instruction

✔You want to support several learning styles

👀Looks Like:
Activities
Discussions
Group projects
Open-ended questions
A visual lesson on Constructivism
 When Cognitivism is Beneficial for Learners

✔You have to teach content that requires high

level thinking skills

✔You want to condition learners to use

specific strategies or routines for learning

✔You want students to have an active

involvement in the learning process

✔You want students to recall prerequisite

skills

Looks Like 👀
Repetition Opportunities to Graphic Organizers
Chunking/Scaffolding investigate/question
Summaries/Outlines
Inquiry Oriented Opportunities to test
Projects theories/hypothesis
 When Behaviorism is Beneficial for Learners

✔You have learners that need consistent

feedback

✔Your learners need to be stimulated

with a reward to encourage participation

Reinforcement ✔You need to facilitate behavior changes

✔Learner need to have a positive

association with content, study skills,
and/or process

Looks Like 👀
Focus on desired behaviors Classroom Constant
Repetitive Routines Reward Management feedback
System (accompany w/
visual aid)
And now, a work from our sponsor…
WHAT LEARNING THEORY IS BEING USED?
Comprehension

Application

Analysis

Synthesis

Application

Evaluation
Cognitivism Behaviorism

I. Identify and set a behavior goal (what do you want students to do?)
Ex: Students will work to complete 7 questions per class period.

II. Align a reward with the behavior goal and academic goal
Ex: Students will earn 10 extra credit point toward the exam, for each of the 7 daily
math questions that are completed each day. Students will earn 20 extra credit points toward
the exam for a completed Critical Thinking Journal. Students can earn a max of 80 extra
credit points toward the exam.

III. Think about how you are going to give constant and consistent feedback.
Ex: Make a poster to showcase points earned toward the exam. Mark it as soon as
activity is completed (good to let the student do the mark-up).
Adapted Lesson Plan
Adapted Plan
Justification
The adapted lesson plan would
be most beneficial in my
instructional setting

Because I want students to

develop a positive association
with the content and learn to
use a consistent practice habit.

Since Calculus is a high level

thinking course, the original
structure is still in place.
✔
Benefits of Following a Design Theory

●Empirical
●Measurable
●Data Driven
●Goal oriented
●Learner Centered
●Focus on real world use
Strengths of Backwards Design

• 3 Step design
• Easy to edit
• Begin with end in mind
• Assess performance
• Adaptable to all
learning theories
Limitations of Backwards Design

• Learners are not identified

• No blueprint for lesson planning
• No focus on retention and transfer
Strengths of Gagne’s Events

• Lesson blueprint
• Learning is guided
• Learner are informed
• Focus on retention and
transfer
• Adaptable to Cognitivism
and Behaviorism
Limitations of Gagne’s Events

• Guided Instruction

• Constructivism

• Benchmark goals for

reaching objectives

• Instructor centered
Strengths of Teaching for Understanding

• Goal Oriented
• Supports instructor style
• Adaptable to learning theories
• Focus on real world performance
Weaknesses of Teaching for Understanding

Requires additional structure

 Most Appropriate Design Theory for My
Instructional Setting and Justification

● The most appropriate design theory for my 11th-

grade English class is Gagne’s 9 Events of
Instruction
● because I want to provide the students with step by
step guidance on how to write a correspondence
using correct format and grammar.
Example(s) of Most Appropriate Design Theory in
My Instructional Setting

● I will need to gain learners attention

● Recall/ Stimulate prior knowledge
● Learners need a step by step process when writing
the correspondence letter
 References
• Backwards Design. (n.d.). KREATIVE KLASSROOM. Retrieved July 16, 2020, from
https://www.mostkreativeklassroom.org/backwards-design.html
•
Behaviorism - The Peak Performance Center. (2020, February 4). The Peak Performance Center.
https://thepeakperformancecenter.com/educational-learning/learning/theories/types-behavioral-
learning/behaviorism/
•
behaviourism | Tony Bates. (2014, July 29). Online Learning and Distance Education Resources.
https://www.tonybates.ca/tag/behaviourism/
•
Blue Sofa Media. (2012a, December 31). Use a Learning Theory: Behaviorism [Video]. YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYDYzR-ZWRQ
•
Blue Sofa Media. (2012b, December 31). Use a Learning Theory: Constructivism [Video]. YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xa59prZC5gA&t=99s
•
Blue Sofa Media. (2013, July 5). Use a Learning Theory: Cognitivism [Video]. YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gugvpoU2Ewo
•
Sanal, A. S. (2018, June 21). Gagné’s Nine Events of Instruction Model in E-Learning-A Quick Overview [Graph]. XL
Pro Corporate E Learning. https://playxlpro.com/a-quick-overview-of-gagnes-9-events-of-instruction-model-in-e-
learning/
•
Teacherspayteachers.com. (2018). Calculus Lesson Plans Ch. 1: Limits. Teachers Pay Teachers.
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Calculus-Lesson-Plans-Ch-1-Limits-4017475?
st=c7be13dbe730d12c6ded3a676b677f98