Comprehensive Report on Learning Theories and Their Applications

This report provides an overview of learning theories, focusing on behaviorist, cognitive, and constructivist approaches. It explores how these theories can be applied in educational settings to enhance teaching and learning. The report details the principles of each theory, including stimuli-response, information processing, and knowledge construction through experience. It also discusses the strengths and weaknesses of each theory, offering insights into their practical applications. The report is a valuable resource for educators and students seeking to understand the foundations of learning and how to effectively facilitate the learning process. The report, contributed by a student, is available on Desklib, offering a comprehensive analysis of these critical learning theories.

Theories About Learning

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
PART. 1...........................................................................................................................................3
1.1................................................................................................................................................3
1.2................................................................................................................................................5
1.3................................................................................................................................................6
PART 2............................................................................................................................................8
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................10
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................11

INTRODUCTION
Learning is a continuous process which goes out throughout the life of an individual.
Learning initiates performance and performance initiates learning both works parallelly. We get
learning from some people who are teacher, professors, lecturers, mentors or anyone who
possess knowledge about any specific topic (Lantolf, Thorne and Poehner, 2015). Learning
compounds of many theories which can be used by the teacher to teach the learners. Many
authors have contributed to learning theories. This report consist of brief knowledge about these
learning theories which can be used by a teacher in its making people learn. The theories are
behaviourist, cognitive and constructivist have been illustrated in this report. As it is known that
teaching also requires learning so it also have to use these theories to learn. All of the three
theories of learning can be used by a teacher to make people learn. This report is very useful for
a teacher who is teaching in any institution or any other organisation (Biesta, 2015). Behaviourist
theory completely works on the behaviour of a person that decides that whether a person will
learn or not. Stimuli and response are the main factor which initiates learning. Cognitive states
that the learning process consist of understanding and retaining the information it states that
learning is done through internal sources. Constructive theory is based on constructing the
knowledge according to the experiences. The knowledge is being constructed by the experiences
an individual gain. This report states that how all the three theories can combine to work and
make a teacher who can teach other people as well. Sometimes the teacher is generated by their
behaviour, sometimes through experiences and sometimes it is out of the memory the retention
of information. This report is a complete knowledge of how learning theories practice can make
the best output which in return gives a teacher to the society who can use these theories to teach
(Steffens, 2015).

PART. 1
1.1
Learning is very important for an individual as it helps in the overall development of an
individual. In order to develop it is necessary that an individual has learning attitude. Learning
theories are the abstract in which information is absorbed by an individual. These information
gathered through learning are maintained by an individual. These theories help in understanding
how teachers acquire knowledge and retain it for their development in future (Braungartand
Gramet,2010). In order to understand how learning helps different theories need to be studied in
detail so that it can be understood in a more better way. These theories act as a base for an
individual to select the techniques that create learning. Different theories are as follows:1. Behaviourism- this theory suggest that knowledge is present outside everyone.
According to this theory learning depends on learner as he says that person who wants to
learn should observe the changes that takes place in the surroundings of the individual.
Teachers should respond to the new behaviour or change in behaviour that take place at
the work site (Follari,2015). They can use this theory n order to teach their students in
more effective manner. This is done by making the students do the same work daily so
that they develop a habit to do a particular job. Once they come in this habits teachers can
provide them with rewards so that the students feel motivated and start develop that habit.
Teachers can also motivate them by praising them in front of others as this also brings
motivation and this way student learn to respond change in their habits (Afifi and
Alamri,2014).2. Cognitive Information processing- This theory is based on procedure behind action. In
this the theorist says that any individual before responding to learning do the internal
processing of it. This is a different theory than that of behaviourism as it s based on the
internal factors rather on external. Teachers can use this theory in understanding the
reason behind change in the students behaviour (Chan Heide and Beauregard,2011). With
this theory teachers observe the change in the nature of students and this way they can
respond to it. When someone behaves differently there is always a reason behind it and
therefore if the student is facing any problem it can be solved or help can be provided to
him. Apart from this, the theory also help teachers in planning lectures for the student. If
teacher observes that students are not in mood to do a detail study on a particular day

than a less important topic could be chosen for that specific day. This way the particular
theory help different teachers in organising their lecture in most efficient manner.
3. Constructivism- According to this theory every individual has different interpretations to
same message and knowledge as a result of different experience and internal knowledge.
Person learn by constructing new thinking and resolve the problems (Laurillard,2013).
This theory makes an individual to be more problem solving in nature therefore making it
one of the best theory of learning for teachers. In schools teachers has their maximum
interaction with students who are in habit of asking many questions and their quarries
never ends. Therefore this help teachers in being more effective so that the questions can
be answered (Sampson and Karagiannidis,2010). This theory makes an individual to be
more innovative and brainstorming in nature. Also this provide teachers help in assisting
the students with their different projects and assignments, solving different problems
which are based on learning so that students can also discover new ways under the
assistance of their teacher.
1.2
There are different learning theories but main are three which can be used by teachers in
providing the proper knowledge and skills to their students. Main learning theories are:
Behaviourism: In this theory, there are new behaviours or the changes in the behaviour of
different person are to be acquired by association between stimuli and responses (Olson, 2015).
It is a passive absorption which is a predefined body of knowledge by the learner which is
promoted by the repetition as well as positive reinforcement. It is helpful for teaching by getting
the correct behavioural responses which are transmitted by the teacher and the information which
is provided by teachers absorbed by students.
Strength: It is successfully applied on the teachers on the basis of classical and operant
conditioning to its theories. They have to use scientific methods for research which helps in
attaining objectives and that should be measurable and observable.
Weakness: It gives more focus on nurture side of nature and also provide the suggestion that all
behaviour can be learned but by using the cognitive and biological elements which is affected by
the behaviour. In this ethical issues can be raised by doing different experiments (Anderson,
2016).

Cognitivism: This theory helps in delivering the proper and appropriate information by
doing the proper processing and it leads to understanding as well as retention for the employees
along with the students. It also assist in doing proper and appropriate learning which occurs
through the internal processing of the information or data. This theory is based on the idea that
human process receive the information rather than responding to stimuli (Russell-Bowie, 2015).
In this theory, information processing is used when the learner play a active role. It help teachers
by facilitating the learning by providing the best environment which succour in promoting then
discovery as well as accommodation.
Strength: This theory has many practical applications. It is a very useful approach for the
teachers as it helps in making the contributions to psychology as well as society as a whole. It is
based on the experiments as it having the main research method. It is a scientific method and
having internal validity which can be controlled (Jones, Ryberg and de Laat, 2015).
Weakness: It is the cognitive processes that the teachers can not do the observations directly.
Cognitive approach having lack of scientific on the basis of subjective findings. It ignores the
other factors which are shown the affects on the behaviour.
Constructivism: It is based on the premises which will help in constructing the own
perspective and it is based on the individual experience and internal knowledge. Every person
have a different set of experience and perceptions and also learning is unique in nature. This
theory is based on the new ideas that is on prior knowledge and experience (Willingham, Hughes
and Dobolyi, 2015). It helps in resolving the conflicts between the ideas as well as reflection on
theoretical concepts. It is helpful for teachers by doing collaborative learning which is facilitated
and guided by the teacher. They have to do group work.
Strength: It is more emphasis on the sensory inputs as well as they have to be overlooked by the
different traditional educators. They have to use proper learning process which they have to use
the senses. It is a special education setting for some time(Olson, 2015). They have to use
effective method which helps in fulfilling the needs of the students.
Weakness: It is having a lack of structure as the students want the appropriate environment so
that they can do proper studies. It removes the grading in the traditional way so that they can
value their own progress which helps in attaining the targets (Frost and et. al., 2015).

1.3
The behaviourism theory while applying into the practice generate positive reinforcement
and negative reinforcement. The positive reinforcement are:
 Guardians regularly utilize a reward framework when potty preparing a little
child. candies, stickers, or other little rewards can be utilized. Each time a tyke
does an attractive conduct – for instance, sitting on the potty, having a dry diaper
in the morning, or heading off to the lavatory on the potty – the parent gives the
kid a reward (Braungart and Gramet, 2010). The expectation is that the youngster
will keep on exhibiting the coveted conduct since he or she needs to acquire the
reward, until inevitably the conduct turns into a propensity.
 Organizations offer raises to workers who display fantastic exhibitions. The
expectation of a raise can fill in as inspiration for workers to carry out their
employments well.
 Four-year-old Emma has a task diagram that incorporates such practices as
making her bed, getting dressed, brushing her teeth, and taking her breakfast plate
to the sink. On the off chance that she finishes her tasks, she gains a sticker on her
errand outline (Follari, 2015). When she has five stickers, she gets the chance to
pick what the family will have for treat.
While on the other hand, negative reinforcement are:
 On the off chance that a secondary school understudy is late to class more than
three times in a checking period, he or she will win a detainment and need to
remain after school (Afifi and Alamri, 2014). School authorities trust that the
likelihood of serving time in detainment will urge students to come to class on
time.
 Sarah is in the propensity for speeding on her approach to work. One morning,
she gets ceased by a cop and given a $275 speeding ticket. From that point
forward, she never speeds again; the negative outcome to her conduct of speeding
makes her comply with as far as possible, since she never needs to get a speeding
ticket again.

Cognitivism behaviourism: As an advancement of immaculate behaviourism,
psychological behaviourist goals concentrate on showing students the estimation of positive
conduct as opposed to simply educating the conduct itself. By enhancing students thinking
abilities and correspondence, the point is to create inherent inspiration and discretion with the
goal that they can enhance, manage and assess their own conduct(Chan, Heide, and Beauregard,
2011). As opposed to immaculate behaviourism, this approach focuses on that the kid is
controlled by him/herself, not by the earth, and that present manners of thinking lead to conduct.
Recognizable proof, appraisal and intercession ought to consequently include youngster fixated
approaches concentrating on the tyke as a person with an inward locus of control.
Constructivism theory: Under the constructivist classroom, the concentration tends to
move from the instructor to the students. The classroom is no longer a place where the instructor
empties information into passive students, who hold up like discharge vessels to be filled. In the
constructivist display, the students are asked to be effectively required in their own procedure of
learning(Russell-Bowie, 2015).
Key assumptions of this viewpoint include:
1. What the understudy as of now accepts, regardless of whether right or off base, is critical.
2. Regardless of having a similar learning background, every individual will construct their
learning in light of the understanding and significance individual to them.
3. Understanding or developing an importance is a dynamic and ceaseless process..
4. Learning may include some applied changes.
5. At the point when students build another importance, they may not trust it but rather may
give it temporary acknowledgement or even dismissal.
6. Learning is a dynamic, not an aloof, handle and relies on upon the students assuming
liability to learn.
PART 2
As a plumbing teacher I can able to improve to improve my skills and knowledge while
working with the learning theories. I learn so many things from them and enhance my level of
understanding as well. There are various ways from which I can able to improve my skills. It is
the long term learning which is helpful for me in long life. It is the specific advantage for me to

use theories and enhance my level of understanding as a teacher. There are various types of
skills which are improve from those theories are as aligned below:
Communication- With the help of theories I can able to improve my communication
skills. While use theories I used to implement them in life and which is helpful for me. Easily
interact with other people and improve understand as well. At work place I used to communicate
with so many people and try to improve my skills. While I m teaching people I needs to enhance
my communication through people can easily understand things which I want to explain them.
Team work- With the help of team working I can easily complete my work in well and
efficient manner. I learned so many thing in group discussion while sharing things with different
kinds of people. With the help of theories I can able to improve my team working skills and try
to coordinate with other people. With the help of coordination, people try to use their collective
efforts and try to provide best possible solution fro each and every problems which can reduce
the performance of companies. In team learning people can share their views, ideas, information,
data, experience and other things which are related to theories.
Motivational skills- As a plumbing teacher, theories are able to motivate me towards my
work and enhance my knowledge as well. After getting motivation at the work place I can easily
manage my work and complete task in timely and efficient manner. Organizations use various
types of theories in order to understand the quality work and maintain their performance as well.
Leaders and manager of companies are responsible to provide proper training or motivation to
their subordinates and improve skills as well. I needs to motivate other people that that try to
attain long term learning.
Decision making- Different types of theories are able to help to improve my
understanding so that can easily take bets possible decision in the interest of companies of
people. With the help of this process I can able to take better decisions which are beneficial for
me to improve my long learning. People can easily take their own decision which are effective in
their life and also having impact as well.
Define things to other people- After opting theories I can easily explain things which are
useful for other. It is the specific advantage which is get through this process and helpful for me
to improve knowledge. Explanation must clear and fair which is beneficial for understand them.
There are various things which are needs to more developed. As a teacher I feel that these
are not helpful for some places. Various thing which are still needs to develop. I needs to

develop my mutual understanding through which I easily interact with other people and try to
analyse that what other people wants to say to me. Development in certain things which means
needs to more enhance them and improve quality as well. I have to develop my management
skills and try to manage things in proper manner and try to attain my target and goals in well and
efficient manner.

CONCLUSION
It is being concluded by this project that there is a big role of learning theories in the
process of learning and teaching. There are three theories which makes a teacher who is very
appropriate. The three theories are constructive, cognitive and behaviourist theory. All of them
works on some elements which are: stimuli, retaining power and experience. All of these factors
combines to make a best possible output for the society which is a teacher who teaches through
their experiences and learning. The memory of a person is responsible for the information
sharing. This report also have concluded that the process of learning is continuous and it is an
ongoing process which keeps on going throughout the life. Because retaining the information
once is for always and a person experiences many things throughout the life which makes that
person learn continuously. Learning operates when a person have flexible mind who lets
something in and who urges to learn more and more. This report states that a person should not
become rigid and should not make some rigid perception about something because things keeps
on changing and learning is a continuous process. This report will help a person to know how to
apply the theories of teaching to became an efficient teacher. A teacher must consist of all the
knowledge so that it can solve the problems of others as well. This report concludes how the
teacher can use experiences and learning to solve these problems correctly which might arise in
the mind of a learner. This report also teaches that never stop learning because life never stops
teaching. Learning is a passion which should never die die because this passion is the key to have
success in life.

REFERENCES
Books and journals
Olson, M. H., 2015. An introduction to theories of learning. Psychology Press.
Anderson, T., 2016. Theories for learning with emerging technologies. Emerging technologies in
distance education.
Russell-Bowie, D., 2015. MMADD about the arts: An introduction to primary arts education.
Jones, C., Ryberg, T and de Laat, M., 2015. Networked Learning (pp. 1-6). Springer Science+
Business Media BV.
Willingham, D. T., Hughes, E. M and Dobolyi, D. G., 2015. The scientific status of learning
styles theories. Teaching of Psychology. 42(3). pp.266-271.
Frost, R and et. al., 2015. Domain generality versus modality specificity: The paradox of
statistical learning. Trends in cognitive sciences. 19(3). pp.117-125.
Lantolf, J. P., Thorne, S. L and Poehner, M. E., 2015. Sociocultural theory and second language
development. Theories in second language acquisition: An introduction, pp.207-226.
Biesta, G. J., 2015. Beyond learning: Democratic education for a human future. Routledge.
Steffens, K., 2015. Competences, learning theories and MOOCs: recent developments in lifelong
learning. European Journal of Education. 50(1). pp.41-59.
Braungart, R.G. and Gramet, P.R., 2010. Applying Learning Theories to. Health professional as
educator: Principles of teaching and learning, p.55.
Follari, L., 2015. Foundations and best practices in early childhood education: History, theories,
and approaches to learning. Pearson Higher Education AU.
Afifi, M.K. and Alamri, S.S., 2014. Effective principles in designing e-course in light of learning
theories. Turkish Online Journal of Distance Education. 15(1).
Chan, H.C., Heide, K.M. and Beauregard, E., 2011. What propels sexual murderers: A proposed
integrated theory of social learning and routine activities theories. International Journal
of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology.55(2). pp.228-250.
Laurillard, D., 2013. Rethinking university teaching: A conversational framework for the
effective use of learning technologies. Routledge.
Sampson, D. and Karagiannidis, C., 2010. Personalised learning: Educational, technological and
standardisation perspective. Interactive educational multimedia.(4). pp.24-39.