Learning Theories

Gestalt Psychology

1875

Hermann Ebbinghaus created experiments that focused on learning and memory. (Illeris, K. (2018). An overview of the history of learning theory. European Journal of Education, 53(1), 86–101. https://doi.org/10.1111/ejed.12265)

Connectionism

1910

Created to Edward Thorndike, connectionism relates to learning come from the response of a stimulus. (Lee, C. (2018). Instructional design models and theories: Connectionism. https://teachonline.asu.edu/2018/02/instructional-design-models-theories-connectionism/).

Behaviourism

1912

John B. Watson is said to be the father of Behaviorism. As a learning theory, behaviorism looks at learning as a change in behavior versus cognitive development. Behaviorism credits learning to what can be seen. (Pritchard, A. (2009). Ways of learning: Learning theories and learning styles. Routledge.). Another well known behaviorist was B. F. Skinner, among others.

Constructivism/Cognitivism

1920

In the 1920s, Jean Piaget developed a learning theory based on the external factors that influences the development of a child - the developmental stage theory (Pritchard, A. (2009). Ways of learning: Learning theories and learning styles. Routledge.). Other important theorists include John Dewey, Lev Vygotsky, and Ernst van Glasersfeld.

Social Learning

1967

Social learning is based on the cues that one receives from the community/culture - following the norm. Alfred Bandura is credited with moving towards social learning. Another social theorist during this time was Peter Jarvis.lleris, K. (2018). An overview of the history of learning theory. European Journal of Education, 53(1), 86–101. https://doi.org/10.1111/ejed.12265.

Adult Learning Theory

1968

Developed by Malcolm Knowles, this theory focuses on how adults learn differently than children. Knowles had used "andragogy" as the term referring to helping adults to learn. (https://lincs.ed.gov/sites/default/files/11_%20TEAL_Adult_Learning_Theory.pdf).