Child Education

Education Theories of Learning – What Are They?

I have been teaching for over 20 years, and there are many theories out the

Everyone wants to learn new things. People want to grow and evolve their knowledge in school or at work.

However, not all education theories are created equal. Some ideas are proven, while others are still just theories. This blog post will examine major education theories and explain what they are, what makes them valid, and how different schools, organizations, and industries use them.

Different schools and organizations have different approaches to Education. These approaches range from traditional to experimental and even ones based on theories that haven’t yet been tested.

While all education theories should be based on scientific evidence, many of them are only loosely supported by evidence, if at all.

For this review, I have looked at these three theories, spaced them out into a time frame, and then listed some pros and cons that focus on different aspects of learning. Each one has its advantages and disadvantages in terms of implementation.

 The different learning theories have long been a source of heated debate among psychologists. Are students capable of understanding concepts they didn’t even know existed before they started studying them? Are they capable of grasping complex topics? Should we give them what they need to succeed or help them understand concepts they are more capable of? What if we try to teach someone with an intellectual disability or other disorder? What if it is about teaching someone to speak another language? Can we prepare a person to use their cognitive abilities how they were meant to be used?

Education Theories

Different Theories of Education

While some schools and organizations use traditional learning methods, others experiment with alternative teaching strategies.

Some schools even go as far as “playing around” with theories to find what works best. Here are just a few examples of the different schools of thought.

Behaviorism – a theory developed by B. F. Skinner in the 1930s focused on behavior modification.

Cognitivism – a theory that says knowledge is based on information. It was introduced by John Locke in 1689 and has become widely accepted since then.

Constructivism – a theory that says knowledge is based on experience. It was introduced by L. S. Vygotsky in 1932 and has become widely accepted.

Humanism – a theory that says knowledge is based on experience and the ability of humans to learn.

Pragmatism – a theory that says knowledge is based on experience. It was introduced by William James in 1896 and has become widely accepted.

Learning styles

The theory of learning styles is an idea that educational theorist Jean Piaget popularized in the 1950s. He theorized that children learn differently and that teachers should tailor lessons to each student.

In the 1970s, researchers John Broadus Watson and George Kelly refined Piaget’s idea, identifying four learning styles: visual, auditory, read/write, and kinesthetic.

These learning styles correspond to a child’s preferred way of learning, such as when a child prefers to listen to a lecture rather than write it down.

Since then, other theorists have developed a variety of learning styles.

Some of these include:

  • Mozart Effect – The idea that different types of music influence how we learn.
  • Fluent Learning – The idea that we can learn anything we practice.
  • Concrete Thinking – The idea that we learn best by focusing on concrete examples.
  • Social Learning – The idea that we learn better if we have the opportunity to interact with others.
  • Multiple Intelligences – The idea that each person has a different learning style.

As you can see, it’s a very complicated topic. But it doesn’t have to be.

What are the different learning styles?

People learn differently; some prefer learning by reading, while others prefer listening. There are five different learning styles:

Auditory: This person learns best by listening. They are good at following directions and can absorb information quickly.

Visual: These people prefer to see what they’re learning and like to draw and write things down. They tend to be good at visualizing what they’re learning.

Kinesthetic: These people prefer to do things. They like to learn by doing, and they want to be taught in a hands-on way.

Verbal: These people prefer to communicate. They like to talk, write, and have conversations. They want to learn by asking questions and being told.

Interpersonal: These people prefer to communicate with other people. They like to be able to discuss what they’re learning, and they want to have conversations.

While some of these learning styles are more common than others, it doesn’t mean you’re stuck with one. You can learn from all of them, and you can learn how to change your approach depending on your audience.

Theory of Multiple Intelligences

Multiple intelligences (MI) theory is an approach to learning that looks at people’s strengths and weaknesses. The theory is used to teach children how to learn best.

As children grow, they develop more and more intelligence. Some of these intelligences are verbal, some are visual, and others are kinesthetic.

These intelligences affect how people learn. For example, a person with visual intelligence may benefit from drawing or coloring pictures before reading a book.

 I have frequently asked questions about Education. 

Q: What are some of the theories of learning?

A: There are several learning theories, but the most common is that it’s a matter of practice. If we practice something enough, we eventually learn how to do it. Another theory is that we learn when we’re motivated. For example, if someone comes to your class and you know you want to succeed in that class, you will probably be motivated to work harder.

Q: What is “constructivism”?

A: A constructivist theory of learning suggests that the learning process is not limited to the individual. Instead, it includes all the people around the learner. Therefore, the teacher must be aware of their impact on the learner, including what they teach them.

Q: What is a “social constructivist”?

A: A social constructivist theory of learning suggests that learning is a process of interaction.

 Top Myths About Education 

  1. A child should not be allowed to learn anything until he is at least two years old.
  2. A child cannot learn anything.
  3. Children are born stupid and require lots of teaching.

 Conclusion

I will start by saying that there are many different theories about Education. Some of them contradict each other. You may not expect this from a subject studied for thousands of years.

The first thing to note is that the field of Education is vast, and it’s only in recent history that anyone has started to look into it.

Some theories of learning are based on the idea that learning is a process.

532 posts

About author
Organizer. Communicator. Explorer. Problem solver. Coffee guru. Internet fan. Hardcore gamer. Soccer lover, ramen eater, drummer, Mad Men fan and RGD member. Operating at the sweet spot between minimalism and computer science to create strong, lasting and remarkable design. Let's chat.
Articles