Brief History of Learning Theories

                                BRIEF HISTORY OF LEARNING THEORIES            

                                  The humans are learning since they have evolved, so the learning process is always happening. Learning is a continuous and dynamic process. Learning is "a process that leads to change, which occurs as a result of experience and increases the potential for improved performance and future learning." (Ambrose et al, 2010, p.3).  Learning theory describes how a learner receive, process and retain knowledge during learning.

                Now, we will have a look at the different theories developed at the different stages. The first theories which existed before the Fifties was BEHAVIOURISM. This systematic approach assumes that all behaviors are reflexes produced by a response to certain stimuli in the environment. It focuses mainly one particular view which is : a change in the external behavior of a particular achieved through through using reinforcement and repetition. In behaviourism theory, the desired behaviour is rewarded where as the undesired one is punished. This approach focuses mainly on rote learning.

                        In the sixties, a new approach emerged which is known as COGNITIVISM. Cognitivism refers to the mental action or process of acquiring knowledge and understanding through thought, experience and the senses. It is the psychology of learning which emphasizes on how we think and how we gain knowledge. It is about how we learn, how we solve problems and how we memorize new knowledge.

                                Now, we will talk about the third theory which emerged in the late sixties by the name of CONSTRUCTIVISM, with the assumption that, by reflecting on our experiences, we construct our own understanding. The guiding principles of Constructivism are : knowledge is constructed, not transmitted, prior knowledge impacts the learning process and building new knowledge requires efforts and meaningful activities. It is about constructing our own knowledge which can differ from one person to another, even if the learning context is the same.

                                Now, we will focus on the most most praised and recent learning theory which goes by the name of SOCIO-CONSTRUCTIVISM. In this theory, we must mention Jean Piaget, a swiss psychologist , who rejected the idea that learning was the passive assimilation of given knowledge. Instead, Piaget proposed that learning is a dynamic process in which learners actively construct knowledge by creating and testing their own own theories with the ones of other actors. Thus, socio-constructivism extends the learning theory of constructivism by integrating the active role of learning interactions. Since, the end of the last century, the learning model of socio-constructivism is considered the dominant theory to understand the learning process, emphasizing the importance of contextualization and social interactions.

                                  

                       References:-

   Ambrose, S.A. et.al. (2010). How Learning Works Seven Research-Based Principles for Smart Teaching. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass                       

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