Learning Theories

In e-Learning, there are three learning theories. They are behaviorism, cognitivism, and constructivism.

Behaviorism believes that learning is based on observable changes in behavior.  In my opinion, it focuses on a new behavioral pattern being repeated until it becomes automatic. The learner is focused on a clear goal and can respond automatically to the cues of that goal. For example, learning can be supported by program that can give responses to the learners.  Learners are stimulated to do some activities in the program and then the program gives responses. There are behavior changes when there are interaction between learner and the program.

Cognitivsm believes that learning is internal process through cognition, for example thinking, processing data (information), and memorization. In this case I think that learners learn by manipulate data, how they receive data and process it through the cognition. In that process, information are received by the human senses. The simple example is learning through an exploration in the internet. By using this feature in the computer, learners can get many information. In getting information, there are cognitive process occur in the learners.

Constructivism believes that learning is construction of learner’s experience. In my opinion, learning can be constructed by learners’ own experience based on their activities. In e-Learning, they can create their own program for example. In creating program, they develop their own learning.