Learning Theories

There are three main theories of learning, or more appropriately called high-level frameworks, in which learning models, styles and specific learning theories (of which there are many) can be generally placed. Included are also a couple of additional modern learning theories added (numbers 4 and 5):

1. Behaviourism
a. Skinner’s behaviourist theory.

2. Cognitivism
a. Piaget’s theory of cognitive development.
b. Bloom’s domains of learning.
c. Gagné’s 5 conditions of learning.
d. Bruner’s spiral continuum.
e. Claxton’s learning power.

3. Constructivism
a. Vygotsky’s theory of learning.
b. Kolb’s experiential theory.
c. Honey and Mumford learning styles.
d. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.
e. Knowles’ theory of adult learning.
f. Schön’s theory of reflection and learning.
g. Lave and Wenger situated learning and communities of practice.
h. Bruner’s discovery learning.
i. Learner centred design.
j. Laurillard’s conversational framework.
k. Albert Bandura’s social learning theory.

4. Connectivism
a. Siemens learning theory for the Digital Age.

5. Collaborativism
a. Harasim’s online collaborative learning theory.