In the behaviourism school of thought, it is believed that learning is the acquisition of new behaviours based on environmental conditions.

For example, if you wanted to learn a new skill, like hook shots in basketball, for instance, you would have to learn the proper technique, and then just keep practicing it until you can consistently make that shot with good form.

This also applies to when you are learning new, non-physical skills or concepts as well.

For instance…

If you wanted to learn how to solve a certain type of math problem, for example, a behaviorist would say to keep copying that math problem and solution (writing it down) until you remember it, then try solving it (or questions similar to it) using your memory.

If this type of learning seems simple to you, it is and has been criticized for its simplicity.

People who oppose this learning style say that there is more to learning than just the external behaviour.

They believe that learning is a process where the learner not only practices the behaviour, but also critically analyses and thinks about what he/she is doing.

Behaviourism, to them, is just about the attainment of the behaviour.

However, behaviourist believes that free will does not exist and behaviour is determined by the environment in which the individual is a part of.

Additionally, their main concern is with the observable stimulus-response behaviours.

How to Apply Behaviourism

In my opinion, behaviourism would be best used to create habits that will allow you to succeed in mastering the subject that you want to learn.

The reason being is that habits are created through repetition and consistency –the more you do it, the more likely it will stick to your everyday routine.

So, the first thing you need to do is think of activities that can help you be more productive.

It can be reading for 20 minutes every morning or doing a yoga/stretching flow immediately after waking up.

Once you complete the activity, reward yourself. You can do this by appreciating how good you feel or how enjoyable it was, or you can give yourself a little treat, like a small candy.

Just remember that the reward is to help motivate you to continue doing that activity every day.

Once you’ve done the activity on a consistent basis for a long period of time, instead of rewarding yourself with a treat, reward yourself with the acknowledgment that the activity has been beneficial to your work and life.

Once you realize this, you will continue to do it because it makes you feel good, and the activity will become a habit.

One thing I want to put emphasis on is that you have to do your desired activity consistently.

Thus, instead of picking a lot of productive tasks, just pick one or two that you know you can do every day and do it every day.

This is how it will become muscle memory and a habit.

Final Thoughts

For me, I started reading non-fiction books for 30 mins before I start my work every day.

I decided to do this because I felt like I wasn’t reading enough and my brain wasn’t working at an optimal state.

Additionally, I also started to exercise every morning as well. I found that I was sitting too much and my body was getting stiff; I needed to be more active and move my body more often.

So what activity are you going to start doing to improve your life and productivity? Share it below in the comments.

Sources:

https://lo.unisa.edu.au/mod/book/view.php?id=610988&chapterid=120208

https://www.simplypsychology.org/behaviorism.html

Social constructivism is a social learning theory that was developed by psychologist Lev Vygotsky.

With this concept, Vygotsky wanted to prove that learning didn’t just happen solely via being taught new information.

Rather, he believed that cognitive functions are developed from social interactions, and thus learning also occurs when people (specifically young children) interact with others.

According to Vygotsky’s 1978 study, Interaction between learning and development:

“Every function in the child’s cultural development appears twice: first, on the social level and, later on, on the individual level; first, between people (interpsychological) and then inside the child (intrapsychological). This applies equally to voluntary attention, to logical memory, and to the formation of concepts. All the higher functions originate as actual relationships between individuals.”

Definition of Constructivism

Constructivism is a word that means constructing knowledge out of experiences and social interactions.

This word is similar to social construction, but the two are different.

Constructivism is a learning theory from psychology, while social construction is a sociological term (you can read more about this concept here).

Some popular constructivist, other than Vygotsky, are John Dewey, Jean Piaget, and Jerome Bruner.

The Main Differences between Constructivism and Social Constructivism

These two learning theories have many similarities, but there are some key differences.

So here are some positions that social constructivism promotes, but constructivism does not:

1) With social constructivism, there is an emphasis on learning with a social group or in a collaborative nature.

2) Social constructivists believe that all cognitive functions have origins in social interaction.

3) Social constructivists believe that learning is more than attaining knowledge. It is also a way for learners to be integrated into a knowledge community.

How Can It Be Used In Education?

Here are two suggestions on how to apply constructivist theories to your classroom:

1) Always question your student’s answers, regardless of it being correct or incorrect.

As well, make sure they understand the answer that they give by having them explain it to you.

2) Teachers should encourage students to have discussions and exchange their ideas.

The students should prove, justify, and communicate their ideas to the classroom (or community) and have the class accept it or reject it. T

his will create shared knowledge.

Final Thoughts

Social constructivism is a view that sees education as a process that happens when humans interact with one another.

As well, it argues that learning is best accomplished when students do (or solve) the problems rather than when they observe how the problems are solved.

Do you think constructivism is a good method of teaching?

Or is there a better method? Share your thoughts below in the comments.

Sources:

http://gsi.berkeley.edu/gsi-guide-contents/learning-theory-research/social-constructivism/

http://www.ucdoer.ie/index.php/Education_Theory/Constructivism_and_Social_Constructivism

http://www.theedadvocate.org/social-constructivism-in-education/

Unlike the other theories that have been discussed in this series, connectivism is a controversial, modern theory that is heavily based on digital learning (or e-learning).

This learning theory sees knowledge as a network where students learn best by doing much of the online research themselves and with peer networks.

What is Connectivism?

Stephen Downes, one of the developers of this theory, describes it as:

“At its heart, connectivism is the thesis that knowledge is distributed across a network of connections, and therefore that learning consists of the ability to construct and traverse those networks.”

He also says that “to teach is to model and demonstrate, to learn is to practice and reflect.”

If you were a student in one of these digital classrooms, there will be a teacher that will teach you the core basics (or essential elements) first.

Then you will be required to do extra research on your own time to learn more about the subject that you are learning.

For example, if you were taking a class on how to do SEO for your blog, there will be a teacher that will teach you the essentials of it (how to write SEO rich articles, how to promote it on social media, etc.).

Then the teacher will have you go out and do additional research and apply all of your knowledge into a blog or website.

Though there are many critics of this theory, I personally believe it is beneficial to students in that, one course (or class) can service multiple people from all over the world.

You just need the internet and the ability to communicate in online peer networks. You are able to learn any subject you wish.

But How Can You Apply Connectivism?

If you want to apply connectivism to your self-directed program, you will first need to find someone or something to lay down the core basics of the subject you want to learn.

This could be in the form of books, an online teacher/tutor, or a mentor.

Then once you have the basics down, you will have to do extra research to learn more about the subject.

You can do this by reading blogs or websites, or watching educational videos online.

Once you feel that you have enough information, you are going to join a discussion group or forum.

Here, you will bounce ideas and discuss what you know about the subject with the peer group.

You will also begin to apply your knowledge. If you are learning how to start a blog, for instance, you will create a blog, work on it (write posts, promote it, etc.), and then have your peers critique it.

And that’s it. That is how you apply this theory to a self-directed program.

Is this a learning method that you think you would apply to your own studies? Share your thoughts below.

Sources:

https://opentextbc.ca/teachinginadigitalage/chapter/3-6-connectivism/

https://www.learning-theories.com/connectivism-siemens-downes.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Connectivism