REFLECTIONS

REFLECTIONS

In learning process, individuals usually acquire, retain and recall knowledge. To explain these ways of learning, an organized set of principles called learning theories are created. We can understand better on how learning occurs through studying and knowing different learning theories. These theories can be used as guidelines in order to select instructional tools, strategies and techniques that can promote learning. There are three learning theories that exist; behaviorism, cognitivism, and constructivism.

BEHAVIORISM

   Behaviorism represents the concept of operant conditioning. The theorists of behaviorism have a strong belief on the existence of knowledge outside of people independently. In this theory, people learn through repetition, means they are in passive blank state shaped by environmental stimuli, both positive and negative reinforcement. Examples of behaviorist learning theory are repetitive practices, bonus and participation points, verbal reinforcement and establishing rules.

     I can apply this theory in the creating of my blog, when our lecturer taught me and my classmates on how to create a blog. Another application can be made when people view my blog about the cities without thinking how could the cities become that way.

COGNITIVISM

   

      This is a learning theory that was in response to behaviorism, theorists who promote this idea claim that behaviorism failed to explain cognition. In this theory, our mind plays the role as the processor of information. Understanding the concept is emphasized as a whole. Examples of cognitive strategies for learning a higher-level thinking are classifying information, linking concepts, discussion, analogies and problem solving.

      In the making of the blog, I actually did some mistakes and started to wonder why, then I solved my problem by asking my lecturer whether my blog is perfect or not besides consulting her to recognize and correct the errors.  Furthermore, I asked my friends in case when I don't know some steps of creating a blog. In my blog, there are some brief explanations about the cities, that when the viewers read them, if they have curiosity, they will ask me directly as I have a bit knowledge about the cities because it seems interesting for me and I had done some researches, which will be explained in constructive learning.

CONSTRUCTIVISM

      The last but not least is about constructive theory of learning. Students learn new things through experience and interactions in this theory, where they build their knowledge. When cognitive learning encourages students to do something and thinking about it, constructive learning explains that the students are required to discover something on their own, which is known as self-directed learning. There is a huge difference between cognitive and constructive learning. The former is about building on prior knowledge, while the latter is about constructing new ideas and concepts based on your own experiences and discoveries.

      After deciding which cities should I put in my blog, I tried to do some research about them. The main websites that I surfed was the Wikipedia, Britannica and so on. There are also some features in Blogger that I discovered and explored by myself. For example, I had went to Mecca and Medina to perform 'umrah, so the experience is the reason why I put the two in my list. In addition, our lecturer taught us about instructional technology based on her experience and research.