Behaviorism vs. Cognitivism Theories of Learning

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Behaviorism vs. CognitivismTheories of
Learning

• By Elva V. Gonzalez

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The foundations of

• Behaviorism were built on the work of Watson and
  B.F.Skinner,
• and
• Cognitivism were built on the work of Vygotsky,
  Dewey, Piaget and Bruner.

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Behaviorism

• a theory that its perspective may be
  defined as a change of behavior as a result of
  experience-that can be measured.

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Cognitivism

• a theory that its
• perspective is a change in mental representations
  and associations brought about by experiences.

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How Does Learning Occur?

• Behavior theories
• Determine which cues elicit the desired
  responses.
• Arrange practice situations so they will prompt
  elicit responses in a natural setting.
• Arrange environmental conditions to enhance
  stimuli.
• Focus on the design of the environment to
  optimize learning.
• Use feedback (reinforcement) to modify behavior
  in the desired direction.

• Cognitive theories
• Focus on the mental activities of the learner.
• Acknowledge the processes of the mental planning,
  goal-setting, and organizational strategies.
• Stress over efficient processing strategies.
• Make use of feedback (knowledge of feedback) to
  guide and support accurate mental connections.

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Behaviorism and Cognitivism

• are both a good way of teaching and learning
  processes, however, there are some differences
  between them which is very significant.

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Control

• Behaviorist presentation of scientifically
  graded language items.
• Cognitivist grading, but not so scientifically
  controlled. Cognitive grading is also important,
  in terms of what the learner brings to the
  activity of learning.

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Error

• Behaviorist should not be made at all.
• Cognitivist can be made, since through errors
  one can learn.

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Exposure

• Behaviorist necessary, but in a linguistically
  controlled way.
• Cognitivist plenty, and its necessary.

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Practice

• Behaviorist drills and drills, constant
  repetition is definitely necessary.
• Cognitivist is important, but rote learning and
  meaningless repetition is out.

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Role of the Learner

• Behaviorist a passive recipient of planned
  instruction.
• Cognitivist an active processor of learning.
  One whose internal data processing mechanism
  operate.

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Role of the Teacher

• Behaviorist one who teaches, plans, presents
  language items and exercises, makes students
  repeat drills and gives correct language forms.
• Cognitivist one who creates opportunities for
  learning to occur with the help of the learners
  data processing mechanism.

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The Language Syllabus

• Behaviorist based on the structures and
  vocabulary of language presented systematically.
• Cognitivist could be less systematically
  presented structures and vocabulary, functions,
  notions, situations, and cognitive functions.

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Grading of Items

• Behaviorist Strict, clear, step by step
  (lock-step method)
• Cognitivist no so definite, since the
  individual language learner is involved.

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Behaviorism
Cognitivism
Behaviorism and Cognitivism are two learning
theories that even though they have their
differences, both theories emphasize the role
that environmental conditions play in
facilitating learning, as well as emphasis on the
role of practice with corrective feedback.
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References

• Abbie Brown Timothy D. Green (2006), The
  Essentials of Instructional Design.,
• Pearson Education , Inc. Upper Saddle River,
  New Jersey
• http//www.forerunner.com/forerunner/X0497_DeMar_B
  ehaviorism.html
• What is Behaviorism? By Kendra Van Wagner
  http//psychology.about.com/od/behavioralpsycholog
  y/f/behaviorism/htm
• http//geocities.com/learningenviornments/learning
  environments.html
• Linguistics Valleys theory of Teaching
  Behaviorism and Cognitivism http//linguisticsear
  ch.blogspot.com/2006/12/theory-of-teachingbehavior
  ism.htm
• Cognitive Theories of Learning
  http//www.personal/psu/edu/users/w/x/wxh139/cogni
  tive_1.htm
• Learning-Theories (2008) http//www.learning-theo
  ries.com/cognitive.html
• 1998-2008 Funderstanding http//funderstanding.com
  /content/behavirism