Types of learning theories in education pdf

The psychology of learning refers to theories and research on how individuals learn. There are many theories of learning. Some take on a more behaviorist approach which focuses on inputs and reinforcements. Some psychological approaches, such as social constructivism , focus more on one's interaction with the environment and with others.

Extensive research has looked at how individuals learn, both inside and outside the classroom. Prior to the s, psychological learning theory varied across countries. An emphasis was placed on trying to understand the overarching phenomenon of a psychological concept and how it connects with other ideas. This also led to a focus on problem-solving as a construct to be explored in the s and s.

In America, there was a strong emphasis on behaviorism , which focused on exploring observable behavior. Learning mechanisms were often tested on animals. Another significant theory was Jean Piaget 's constructivism , which described how learners construct knowledge by expanding and changing their ideas based on the information they receive.

After World War II , two major learning theories became prominent. One was behaviorism, which stemmed from the work of B. Skinner and others.

Theories of learning in psychology ppt

These could not be explained adequately through behaviorism. In addition, a humanistic view of psychology, led by psychologists Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow , grew. Maslow's hierarchy of needs model influenced the psychology of learning because it described how people needed to meet their basic physical, social, and mental needs before they could address other less basic needs.