Theme 1: Theories of Learning

Meeting 1: Introduction to Theories of Learning

Classroom Activity:

Five students are asked to tell the class how they teach
The lecturer explores these teaching approaches (pedagogy) through a discussion
The lecturer presents a slide show on theories of learning
Students are asked to position their own teaching approaches within the range of learning
theories
Students are expected to discuss online the benefits/drawbacks of constructivist approaches
to teaching

Lecture: Salient points

Does the medium influence learning?

Online learning
Schools of learning:
o Behaviourism (Ertmer & Newby, 1993: The ‘what’)
o Cognitivism (Ertmer & Newby, 1993: The ‘how’)
o Constructivism (Ertmer & Newby, 1993: The ‘why’)
Behaviourism and the implications for online learning
Cognitivism and the implications for online learning
Constructivism and the implications for online learning