Learning theories – taking a critical look at current learning theories and the ideas proposed by their authors
List of Authors
  • P. George Oommen

Keyword
  • behaviourist, cognitivist, constructivist, connectivist, teaching, learning, philosophies

Abstract
  • In order for effective teaching and learning to take place, it is vital for both teachers and learners to understand how one learns. If we know how individuals learn, then specific methods can be employed so that learning takes place more effectively. Over the centuries, many icons have theorised how learning takes place. This paper seeks to identify some of these icons and the theories and ideas promoted by them. This paper also seeks to critique their ideas so that this paper itself becomes another source of help to those seeking literature to understand teaching and learning philosophies. There is a plethora of learning theories out there and time would not permit us to explore all of them and so we shall look at the behaviorist, cognitivist, constructivist, and connectivist theories. The advent of ICT (Information and Communication Technology) does not make these theories redundant or irrelevant; on the contrary, it enhances the methods proposed by the experts of old.

Reference
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