Blog Post 6: Learning Theories, Learning Styles, and Intelligences

Learning theories are interesting because they attempt to explain the way people learn, and take into account the fact that all people have different styles of learning. The three main learning models are behaviorism, which includes systems of reinforcing positive behaviors and punishing negative behaviors, information processing, which suggests that the mind works like a computer to process information, and constructivism, which states that humans construct their own versions of knowledge based on their experiences. Although their are criticisms about all of these types of learning, all of them have validity and are ways in which people learn.

In education, it is extremely important to know different models of learning. A model that works for one person may not work for another person. Also, the strategies for retention discussed in the presentation are good for teachers to know. Rehearsal, organization, elaboration, imagery, and schemas are all ways that teachers can show to their students in order for them to remember ideas and facts. I would use the information about learning styles to help cater to individual students and attempt to give each child a fair and equal chance at learning.


I chose this video taken from Youtube to display an example of both operant and classical conditioning, which are aspects of behaviorism.