From behaviourism and suggesting an engine for ‘Learning machines’ (FIG. 1) (Skinner’s learning machine) in the form of “programmed instruction” (Keller, 1968) which inspired “Adaptive learning software” companies.
(FIG 1)
Into Piaget’s cognitive learning theories which have been influential in early childhood education and scaffolding learning which influenced designers of multi-media learning materials (e.g., Mayer, 2001).
To Vygotsky’s Zone of Proximal Development (FIG. 2) for social constructivism, that insists that knowledge is not something in the world to be “acquired” but a state of understanding to be discovered afresh by the learner through their exploratory (and constructing) actions. which was the baseline for the design of online environments for collaborative learning.
(FIG 2)
And many more, with so many applications and approaches.
Do we have to make a choice?
Although they are often felt to be distinct, there are reconciliations to be made between them. So, it would be misleading to imply that they were essentially incompatible with each other. There are several ways in which reconciliation might be approached (cf. Engeström, 2014; Greeno & Engeström, 2014).
“My "ah-ha" moment was the realization that all learning theories describe "some" ways in which we learn, but not "all" ways in which we learn. Learning is such a complex concept, that it is not fair to expect a single theory to explain it all”. (Hogue, R.)
Selecting among such theories will depend upon a variety of factors:
1- The circumstances that arise when addressing learning situations.
2- Framework decisions will be related to the detailed context of such situations.
3- The identity of the learners.
4- The nature of what it is to be learned.
Kindly access the personal Padlet board for more relevant artefacts and pieces of literature.
References
Engeström, Y. (2014). Learning by expanding. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
Greeno, J. G., & Engeström, Y. (2014). Learning in activity. In R. K. Sawyer (Ed.), The Cambridge handbook of the learning sciences (2nd ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press."
Web References
Evolution of ICT in Education - https://www.slideshare.net/lisaroque101/evolution-of-ict-in-education)
Hogue, R.,- https://rjhogue.name/2011/09/24/learning-theories/
http://www.ucdoer.ie/index.php/Education_Theory/Constructivism_and_Social_Constructivism)
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