Learning Theory

Most teachers will have their own learning theory but first they should study the basic theories that have been around for years. Behaviorism is thought to be a result of reinforcement. This theory would mean that a behavior can be repeated over and over again because of a reinforcement or negative reinforcement. This learning theory relies on the ability to change behavior with reinforcement. If a child is punished for a typical bad behavior and then will no longer participate in the same bad behavior, this is considered behaviorism with operant conditioning. B.F. Skinner named this process which basically means a behavior that is the result of an operation on the environment.

Constructivism is another type of learning theory. This theory means that a person develops or constructs new concepts by taking what he's learned in the past and using it to develop new ideas. This type of learning is often directed from the student to the teacher. This learning theory was highly used and studied by Jean Piaget who argued that children learned through play. Left alone to discover things on their own, it was found that children did learn at a good pace. Open ended education would become more popular over time and is often used in the popular Montessori Schools.

Teachers often use both theories when instructing students. Informal learning theory is also another theory used when teaching students. Self taught learning is the general consensus of theorists when they choose informal theories. This theory also plays book learning against real-world learning. Many have found that public schools prefer books and are losing out on real-world education. Colleges are now focusing on teaching our future teachers to take a closer look at all learning theories. Implementing several learning theories into their programs can be very beneficial to all students. Though learning theories are still being studied today, take into consideration that each child learns in their own way and can benefit by having their curriculum tailored to meet their needs.