Month: May 2020

The reading, “Exploring Learning Theories: A Comparative Analysis of Behaviorism, Cognitivism, and Constructivism,”by Ertmer and Newby (2013), discusses the critical features of three foundational instructional design perspectives. Behaviorism refers to the learning theory where learning happens when a person reacts to something (a stimulus) in a certain way (a response). Behaviorism includes recalling facts, defining and illustrating concepts, applying explanations, and performing a procedure automatically. Cognitivism is a learning theory that focuses on how the brain processes, stores, and retrieves information, emphasizing thinking, problem-solving, and understanding. Constructivism is a learning theory that suggests people learn best by actively building on their own experiences and knowledge through exploration and hands-on activities (Ertmer & Newby, 2013). 

The concept that I initially found difficult to understand from this unit was the difference between cognitivism and constructivism. When I first read through the reading, I could not really tell the difference between the two, but after further understanding, I believe the difference to be that cognitivism focuses on how the brain processes and organizes information, like a computer storing and retrieving data, while constructivism emphasizes how learners actively build their own knowledge through experiences, exploration, and problem-solving. In short, cognitivism is about how we think and learn mentally, while constructivism is about how we learn by doing and interacting with the world around us.

Out of the three learning styles, my current instruction style that works best for me is constructivism. because I learn best by actively engaging with the material, experimenting, and figuring things out on my own. I find that hands-on activities, problem-solving tasks, and real-world applications help me understand concepts more deeply. I find it difficult to memorise new info without actually understanding how the info fits into learning topics (cognitivism). My favouritism for constructivism is also evident in my mindset towards learning. My mindset towards learning usually involves being able to have a conversation about the subjects rather than just memorizing the definitions of what is being learned. This aligns with constructivism, as I learn best through active discussion and exploration. However, it also overlaps with cognitivism, as I value understanding and processing information in a meaningful way rather than just recalling facts. 

Overall, this unit was very interesting and opened my eyes to the different kinds of learning theories. No matter what learning theory works for you, at the end of the day, it takes time to learn well (EDCI 335, 2025). Ultimately, the key to success is embracing the learning process and continuously evolving as a student, no matter the approach.