Educational Theory &
Online Learning
Cognitive Theory
Based on cognitive psychology. Learning
involves the use of memory, motivation,
and thinking. Reflection is a crucial
component of learning.
Teaches HOW, focuses on processes and principles.
Strategies should be used in consideration
of attention and perception.
COGNITIVE STYLE: The learner's preferred
way of processing information. It is an
individual different indicator.
It is a personality factor that
influences attitudes, values,
social interaction.
Field-dependent and Field-Independent
Dual Coding Theory (Paivio) Information
presented in different modes will be better
processed. Information processed in
different parts of the brain means more
encoding. Better memory!
Motivational Theory: Learners should be
motivated to learn.
Intrinsic Motivation
Extrinsic Motivation
ARCS Model (Keller): a model that
addresses how to motivate learners
during learning.
Attention: Catch and moviation
Relevance: Benefit of learning
Confidence: Build confidence by
moving from simple to complex/
known to unknown. Use objectivites.
Satisfaction: Provide feedback
Metacognition: The learner's awareness of their own learning capabilities and be able to use that to learn effectively.
Learning Style: How learners perceive, interacts with and responds to the learning environment. Can be determined through different measures.
Constructivist Theory
Learners interpret the world based on
their own personal reality. We learn
through observation, processing, and
interpretation. We then personalize it.
Teach WHY, focuses on higher-level thinking skills.
Situated Learning: The belief that
learning is contextual
Transformative Learning: (Mezirow)
reflectively transforming the beliefs,
attitudes, opinions and emotional reactions
that constitute meaning.
Learners interact with content, other
learners, and instructors to test and
confirm ideas, applying what was learned
Interaction: Learning should be interactive
Higher Level Learning
Social Presence
Personal Meaning
Connectivist Theory
The integration of principles explored by chaos,
network, complexity, and self-organization. The
key idea is we must be able and willing to LEARN,
UNLEARN, and RELEARN.
Design learning for machines and humans.
Behavior Theory
Learning is a change of observable
behavior caused by external stimuli.
Teach WHAT, focuses on facts
Theorists: Thorndike, Pavlov, Skinner