1. JOT2 – LEARNING THEORIES
Becky LaBarre
NOTE: Please be sure to download the actual assessment task and rubric from TaskStream and carefully read what each task requires.

2. Learning Theories & Learners
Constructivism, Cognitivism, Behaviorism
There are three learning theories we will be discussing. They are Constructivism, Cognitivism and Behaviorism.

3. When Constructivism is Beneficial for Learners
In order to understand a difficult concept
When working with groups
When working on projects
The first learning theory we will discuss is constructivism. This is where learners are in charge of their own learning. They are “constructing” their knowledge. This type of learning is great for students who do not need a lot of assistance from the teacher. Constructivism is good for learners trying to understand a difficult concept or big idea such as integrity. It also works well when students can work with a collaborative group and discuss their learning and creating their own projects.

4. When Cognitivism is Beneficial for Learners
When students need to be guided
When students are using graphic organizers or templates
When students are using strategies
Cognitivism is focused more on using strategies and organization to guide the learner. Teachers in this learning theory will use more modeling, graphic organizers, and examples to impart knowledge on their students. Some common cognitivism learning strategies would be using Mnemonics, analogies, outlines, and modeling.

5. When Behaviorism is Beneficial for Learners
When students need repetition
When students have behavior problems
When students need reinforcement
Behaviorism is very teacher centered. This requires the teacher to be very involved with the learner. This learning theory works well when teaching facts and gives immediate feedback. Behaviorism uses cues and consequences to reinforce learning. Teachers using this theory would use a lot of repetition and they would reinforce correct responses. Behaviorism provides a lot of practice for learners.

6. Learning Theory Used in Lesson Plan
Cognitivism Theory
I am going to use an example lesson plan to demonstrate the difference between cognitivism and constructivism learning theories. The first learning theory I will use is cognitivism.

7. Cognitivism Lesson Plan
Teach Point of View using Cognitivism Learning Theory
Venn Diagram
The point of this lesson is to teach students point of view. To do that I would first read The Three Little Pigs stopping to discuss the story along the way as you would do with any read aloud. After reading the story I would ask the students who had heard that story before. I would then introduce the students to the book the True Story of the Three Little Pigs. I would read this story in the same way I had read the original version. For those of you unfamiliar with this story it is written from the wolf's point of view and differs from the traditional story. I would then do a Venn Diagram to compare and contrast the stories. I would focus the discussion on point of view and the differences in the story based on the point of view.

8. Adaptation of Lesson Plan
Constructivism Theory
For the adapted lesson I will use the constructivism theory.

9. Constructivism Lesson Plan
Collaborate with group
Write a third story from a different point of view
I would start the lesson much the same as I did the cognitivism lesson, by reading both stories out loud to the class. After reading the two stories, students would break into their collaborative groups and discuss the differences in the stories. They would then discuss if their was any other point of view the story could be told from. Finally as a group they would write a third story from a different point of view that could be presented to the class in multiple different ways.

10. Lesson Plan Discussion
Which lesson makes the most sense for your students?

11. Constructivism Lesson Plan
Accessible to whole class
Engaging
Deep understanding
For my students the constructivism lesson plan shows a deeper understanding of point of view. It can be leveled for the different learners in your classroom. The constructivism lesson is a great extension for students to go deeper into point of view. Although, the use of the Venn Diagram in the first lesson is a more organized method of teaching and assessing point of view, it is not as engaging as the constructivism approach through collaboration and discussion.

12. Effective Instruction Through the Use of Design Theories
How do theories of design help produce effective instruction?

13. Use of Design Theories Theories of design help teachers
clarify learning goals
devise revealing assessments of student understanding
craft effective and engaging learning activities
Design theories help teachers create more focused, engaging, and effective lesson plans. For example, in backwards design you first determine what you want students to learn, then create the assessment, and then you design the lesson. By knowing exactly what standards you are trying to assess, it gives the teacher clear learning goals. This allows the teacher to use the curriculum as a tool to create lessons that are engaging and focused on the learning goals.

14. Design Theories Wiggins’ Understanding by Design
Gagne’s Events of Instruction
Teaching for Understanding (The Harvard model)
There are three theories of design we will discuss which are Wiggins theory of Understanding by Design, Gagnes Nine Events of Instruction, and Teaching for Understanding-The Harvard Model.

15. Strengths of Wiggins Theory
It helps create focused learning
Focuses on understanding
Prioritizes student learning
First is Wiggins theory of Understanding by Design. In Wiggins theory you plan with the end in mind, it is referred to as backwards design. The first thing you ask yourself is what is the essential learning for the student. What do they need to learn and understand. Then you create an assessment from the answer to that question. After you have done that you can create a focused and engaging lesson. Using this theory creates focused learning and understanding on a goal and it prioritizes what is most essential for students to learn.

16. Limitations of Wiggins
Takes a very long time
Not appropriate for all standards
The drawback to Wiggins theory is that planning every lesson this way takes a very long time and it is not appropriate for every standard that students need to meet. For example counting objects to 30.

17. Strengths of Gagne’s Events
Events for each lesson
Supports the process of learning
As students become independent learners they can do some of these independently
Gagne’s theory lists nine events of learning. They are 1. Gaining Attention 2. Inform of Objective 3. Prior Learning 4. Presenting the Stimulus Material 5. Provide Learning Guidance 6. Elicit Performance 7. Provide Feedback 8. Assess 9. Enhance Retention transfer. Gagne explains that these nine events need to happen for learning to occur. If a teacher plans using these nine events the learning process will be supported. Some of these events happen naturally and as the students become more independent learners they will do these on their own.

18. Limitations of Gagne’s Events
Supplied by external sources
Not always in order
Not all events are needed for every lesson
The limitations to Gagne’s Events are that they are supplied by the teacher and although the order stated is common not all learning will take place in that order. In addition, not all the events are needed for every lesson and it is up to the teacher to determine that.

19. Strengths of Teaching for Understanding
Flexible
Teachers can use own style
Teaching for Understanding was developed as guideline for creating lessons. The lessons teachers create using these guidelines need to include 1. Generative topics-a concept worth teaching 2. Understanding Goals-these are unit sized goals that help reach the overall goal. 3. Performances of Understanding-these are activities that demonstrate their understanding that get progressively more complex as the school year goes on. 4. Ongoing Assessment-students need to be provided with ongoing feedback and opportunities for self reflection throughout a unit and not just at the end of a unit. The good thing about these guidelines is that they are very flexible and allow for the teacher to use their own style when creating a lesson.

20. Weaknesses of Teaching for Understanding
Not very detailed
The main weakness of this style is that it is not detailed. This really leaves it up to the teacher to determine if they are creating a quality lesson plan.

21. Task G: Most Suitable Design Process
Understanding by Design
What do I feel is the most suitable design process? Understanding by Design.

22. Understanding by Design
Backwards Design
Focused on learning targets
Prioritizes student learning
Understanding by Design is the most suitable design theory for my purposes because it is focused on learning targets and it prioritizes learning targets. When teachers design their lessons around exactly what they want the students to learn and what is most crucial to their understanding, teachers arrive at more clear concise lessons that will be more valuable to the students. This will keep the teachers and students more focused.

23. References
Fusaro, M. (2008) What is Teaching for Understanding. Retrieved from
Gagne, R. (1988) The Events of Instruction. Principles of Instructional Design.
Retrieved from
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Lovtobeurs, S.(n.d.) Teaching Point of View. Retrieved from
Mergel, B. (1998) Instructional Design and Learning Theory. Retrieved from
Wiggins (n.d.) Authentic Education. Retrieved from
Wiggins, McTighe (n.d.) Understanding by design. Retrieved from
All websites are referenced on the pages that I talk about them.