Comparing Behaviorism and Constructivism Theories

This assignment compares and contrasts two educational theories: behaviorism and constructivism. Behaviorism is a psychological method that studies observable behaviors, while constructivism explains how people obtain knowledge by putting it into action. The two theories have differences in their approach to learning, with behaviorism being teacher-centered and constructivism learner-centered. They also share similarities, such as focusing on observable actions and processes. The assignment requires students to analyze and compare these theories, highlighting their implications for education and student outcomes.

COMPARISON BETWEEN CONSTRUCTIVISM AND BEHAVIORISM THEORIES
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Tables of Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................2
Behaviorism theory....................................................................................................................3
Constructivism theory................................................................................................................3
Similarities between constructivism and behaviorism theory....................................................3
Differences between constructivism and behaviorism theory....................................................4
Behaviorism and Constructivism Venn diagram........................................................................4
The Behavioral Approach in Learning.......................................................................................5
Benefit of behaviorism theory....................................................................................................7
Limitations of behaviorism theory.............................................................................................7
The Constructivist Approach in Learning..................................................................................7
Benefits of Constructivist Learning.........................................................................................10
Limitations of Constructivist Learning....................................................................................11
Conclusions..............................................................................................................................11
References................................................................................................................................12
Introduction
Constructivism and behaviorism are some of the psychological theories that explain
the learning and teaching behaviors. These theories are similar because, they are both
philosophies of learning (Pacis, 2012). Additionally, the theorists who developed them
explained the learning environment as well as the knowledge surroundings. They also,
explained how learning and education in different surroundings occur. In addition to that,
both the theories have had an impact on the teaching methods in the classrooms and distant
studies (Newby, 2013). These theories were vital in analysis and presentation learning
materials in classes as well as, discussing the learner’s role in systems of education.
Therefore, their similarities and differences should be equally addressed for better
understanding. But, the most important aspect to be noted is that the differences of these
theories have been the most important topics in teaching and learning.

Theory 2
Constructivism theory
This theory explains how people obtain knowledge then learn by putting into action. This theory directly
influences education patterns. This theory states that people construct knowledge from past experiences (Hederih, 2010). The
theory analyses how an individual creates systems for better understanding. For instance, a teacher presents a query to the
students, such as measuring the weight of a whale. Instead of introducing the problem by presenting a scale/ weighing
machine, the students are allowed by the teacher to reflect and come up with their own measuring techniques. These strategies
include listening without talking, active listening, socially interacting, solving problems and reasoning abilities.
Differences
Behaviorism theory Constructivism theory
It is teacher-centered It is learner centered
Teacher is a member of students A teacher is an expert
Based on understanding and application Adherence to curriculum
Similarities
The two theories suggest that all things that a person does which include acting, viewing and tasting
are his or her behaviors. Both theories explain the actions in an environment (Hassad, 2011). They try to
investigate the responses of students in different situations. Behaviorism insists on having observational patterns
that show the relationship that lead to results and this is no difference from constructivism that explains that the
observations are the actions and processes that result into thoughts and emotions.
Part 1: Venn diagram
Behaviorism theory
This is a psychological method that states that the observable behaviors of a thing form the study object that can
be analyzed, evaluated and measured (Klinger, 2016). In Behaviorism, the theorist tries to explain the why question by trying
to understand the circumstances and events that make a situation occur. In education, the kind of people in this theory try to
change behaviors by motivating others. For example, a teacher can buy presents or praise students who show improvement in
both their class work and behavior.

Running head: COMPARISON BETWEEN CONSTRUCTIVISM AND BEHAVIORISM
THEORIES 5
Part 2
The Behavioral Approach in Learning
Children with conditions such as, autism, blindness, cerebral palsy and dyslexia need
special education hence, require behavioral and cognitive methods for proper teaching.
Currently, professionals deem the Behavioral theory as a traditional theory that does not have
room to incorporate the modern believe of knowledge enhancement and students cognitive
development (Lenjani, 2015). The above is not correct or universal especially to the kids with
special needs. These children need well-structured methods with clear instructions and quality
leadership that help obtain immediate and comprehendible feedbacks (Raina, 2011). The
different principles of this classical theory will be helpful if one has them. Behavioral approaches
help develop training of skills. Though, most people fear that this does not happen. This is
because they believe that the Behavioral approach affects the entire personality of a person
(Richardson, 1996). In this approach, the punishment principle is avoided at all cost since its
consequences can be entirely quite unpredictable. The extinction principle in this approach is
also used but much at times incorrectly. However, other principles in this approach can still be
used and effectively work in helping a student achieve his or her goals (Chetty, 2016). During
the initial schooling of a student, we must develop better reactions that lead to better prompting
(Klinger, 2016). Though, the prompting principle is not often found in books of literature it is the
one that is occasionally used in the learning and teaching environment. Prompting stimulates a
reaction that drives towards a certain response.

COMPARISON BETWEEN CONSTRUCTIVISM AND BEHAVIORISM THEORIES 6
In the current trends of education, behaviorism is used especially in the technological
environment where students are rewarded after a playing a certain game (Klinger, 2016).
Computer games and teaching machines are some of the examples of the behavioral situations in
the modern world. The teaching machines indicate the behaviors of students. Behavioral
approach also involves hypothesis learning that will involve mastering of targets when provided
with sufficient time and an appropriate class. Division of wider topics into sub units and
examination of each unit is essentially important. Further discussions should be provided incase
student does not comprehend the sub units (Churchill, 2013). Forming of groups is also
important in increasing the pace of working in the classes. This method is sometimes not
recommended by most experts.
The behavioral approach is efficient especially when previous knowledge is bad,
insufficient or there was poor intellectual ability. For instance, when students are made to write
complicated intellectual task which involves component skills, which some of the students may
lack completely. Open situations such as fields open a student’s mind to new and more organized
findings especially when the students are more active and intelligent (Hassad, 2011). Feedback is
also quite essential since it helps gives directions to a student. Some feedbacks such as read one
more time or think on what you wrote might be confusing to them. If a teacher understands the
behavioral methods and techniques, then there are able to identify the behaviors of their students
and be able to pull them out from the different situations that student experiences.
Benefit of behaviorism theory
 The method has been able to provide strong arguments concerning the
nurture side of the nature

COMPARISON BETWEEN CONSTRUCTIVISM AND BEHAVIORISM THEORIES 7
 The theory has also offered various practical techniques and applications
to shape behavior in the education sector such the presentation of gifts to the students
(Churchill, 2013).
Limitations of behaviorism theory
 The theory refuses to acknowledge the importance of biological aspects in human
behavior which tends to stress on the significance of nature.
 Behaviorists usually look at human beings as passive learners, whereas
constructivist psychologist’s humans are viewed as active agents meaning human
beings are capable of controlling and determining their development.
The Constructivist Approach in Learning
This approach is based on the nimble processes and knowledge construction by a student
which comes from learning through actions. Exploring and activeness of a child during learning
shows there are various forms of knowledge at work (Matthews, 2003). This theory is quite
common in the real-life situation. The theory can be applied in classroom situations especially
when a teacher poses a problem in class. For instance, in case it is a math problem. Though, the
teacher knows the answer he or she tries to help out the students.
Another situation is when performing experiments. The teacher helps in designing the
experiments for the students. Piaget a great psychologist assumes that a teacher will always try to
understand and investigate a student past knowledge so as to understand their level of thinking
and where to make developments that will improve the student’s schemes. Piaget also insists that
creation of intellectual conflicts during the thinking processes is necessary to make a child
achieve equilibrium in an adaption process (Gallagher, 2004). For that reason, tasks posed to a

COMPARISON BETWEEN CONSTRUCTIVISM AND BEHAVIORISM THEORIES 8
student must also not be demanding otherwise the student will not solve them since, Piaget
theories ensures that the students cognitive development is established in regard to their age,
hence the assignments set are suitable to the student’s cognitive development level. Vygotsky
had a different perspective in which he stated that a student needs helps to solve tasks. He
formed categorizes of skill as per the students’ ability to solve problems (Klinger, 2016). At the
early stages of strategy development then help is needed. Help or support include the
encouragement talks, hints or clues and task division which defines scaffolding. The initial
support is always from the teacher who helps in knowledge construction. After sometime, the
child grows to help other young upcoming children.
The zone of proximal development encourages interaction with one’s peers as an ideal
way of acquiring strategies and skills which helps a child deal with tasks given (Shabani, 2010).
It should also be known that in teaching and learning, formative examining should be preferred
to summative assessing. The formative examination can be enabled by developing a plan that
helps measure the progress by result selection. Feedback is essential in such situations and the
student must be part of the assessments done. This is then represented back to the teacher as
reflection and results. The following key questions help in improving feedback: what is the
major error? What is the reason to the cause of the error? What guidance must be provided?
What should be noted down? The major problem with portfolio is the increased work amount
and forming of suitable procedures for every task is separately measured. Characteristics of
psychometric should adapt to the observable nature of the elements being studied.
Most critics of teaching and learning occasionally find behavioral learning to be
incompetent since, it mostly emphasizing on achievements. It is said that students pay more
attention on the external motivation rather than looking at the processes. External motivation

COMPARISON BETWEEN CONSTRUCTIVISM AND BEHAVIORISM THEORIES 9
may be advantageous or disadvantageous especially to teachers who should be keen enough. For
instance, a student praised uncritically is bound to stop working hard enough (Turuk, 2008). This
is severe when a student is punished wrongful especially when a group has to be punished.
Additionally, this is even more extent when a single individual has to be punished and yet the
entire group is affected. Behavioral methods go hand in hand with ethics. Inadequate knowledge
of the behavioral theory renders its use ineffective.
In most occasions, the problem may not be theory but rather the individual planning to or
using it. Using behavioral techniques is not universal in most cases. The techniques may be
efficient to a certain child but not effective to the other one. Since reproduction of information
occurs this process leaves a space for a student to be inactive. Also, student activeness is mostly
dependent on the processes involved and not the approach being used (Klinger, 2016). The
theory of behaviorism focuses on measuring of individual’s achievements and the methods used.
The activeness of the student is maintained by the constructivist theory and this shows that the
classes’ students are engaged should be pleasant and above all exciting. Therefore, some students
who do not understand the behavioral rules find various chances to escape the active learning
group environment (Klinger, 2016). Critics of constructivism indicate the relationships among
the students where one may take up the leadership duties and make summaries for groups as the
subordinate’s yield. Active classes enhance quick understanding (Churchill, 2013). In
constructivism, there is great understanding of knowledge which can be transferred from one
person to another. Students prove themselves through the different learning methods that
enhance different level of competencies. Good tasks enhance curiosity and exploration.
Furthermore, in constructivism, home works are highly disregarded since they may be solved or
not. Students in the class will develop the following processes self-regulation, in built reflection

COMPARISON BETWEEN CONSTRUCTIVISM AND BEHAVIORISM THEORIES 10
or improved communication (Klinger, 2016). Feedback is required especially, to encourage and
support.
Criticism is applied in this situation since some students have low basic knowledge than
those in the traditional learning environment. Here, teachers have a different role. The role of the
teacher is to mentor. In addition to that, teachers must always be prepared for the classes as this
might become a challenge if not well planned ( Duchesne, 2013). In this approach, a teacher
develops some teaching competences that will be difficult to develop in the traditional learning
environment. Constructivism should begin at an early stage. Later introductions lead to students’
passiveness this is because learning is a process whereby knowledge is constructed and not
obtained anyhow. As a result, students in need of clarity in structuring of this knowledge often
end up with unsuccessful knowledge construction. Special needs students are the ones highly
affected in these types of studies and should be looked upon.
Benefits of Constructivist Learning
 Constructivist learning depends on active, hands-on tasks that makes the student be active
during learning hence enabling the student to understand the lesson’s topic and relate to
what has been studied to their lives. Therefore, learning in the classroom does not just
enhance the acquisition of absolute truth but enhances development of personal
knowledge.
 Since the teacher is the guider and facilitators of the student, the process enables the
student in the creation of their own ideas and be able to draw correct conclusion. For
example, an emphasis creates self-esteem and confidence, which, motivates students to
handle complex issues and themes.

COMPARISON BETWEEN CONSTRUCTIVISM AND BEHAVIORISM THEORIES 11
 The theory enables the student to be able to engage themselves with the previous
knowledge concerning the subject therefore eliminating inaccuracies that the student was
not aware of (Churchill, 2013).
Limitations of Constructivist Learning
 Implementation of solid constructivist approaches needs a lot of time
therefore, being time consuming to both the teachers and the students.
 At times it is hard for the teachers to evaluate if the student has drawn correct
conclusions.
 Another limitation is that the student could follow the instructions from the
teacher and be extremely active but end up drawing wrong conclusion
(Duchesne, 2013).
Conclusions
Constructivism and behaviorism are some of the psychological theories that explain the
learning and teaching behaviors. The most important item in learning is knowledge. Students
learn because they are motivated will never become active in any learning environment and this
does not improve their cognitive developments. Early constructivism enhances better
communication skills, explorations and development. Integration of constructivism with
behaviorism helps in setting better learning situations. Children with conditions such as, autism,
blindness, cerebral palsy and dyslexia need special education hence, require behavioral and
cognitive methods for proper teaching. Opinions on how traditional methods of teaching are old
and that the 21st century methods should be applied in most cases should be avoided at all costs.

COMPARISON BETWEEN CONSTRUCTIVISM AND BEHAVIORISM THEORIES 12
Since it makes some of our teachers borne the traditional era disappointed. Active teaching and
learning methods brought quite a significant change in the learning environment but proper
assessments must always be done to help make decisions on which method is the most efficient
to use or apply in a certain environment. How a student perceives his or her own teacher is also
important as some students or even most of them will make actions as per their assessments on
their teacher’s characteristics.
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Internation Education and Research Journal, 17-23.

COMPARISON BETWEEN CONSTRUCTIVISM AND BEHAVIORISM THEORIES 13
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