For this assessment, you will examine how two theories could be compared in their application to an everyday learning situation. You will describe the basic tenets of each theory. Use specific terminology from the theories to hypothesize how the person in the case study has learned things so far that resulted in the current challenge. Finally, you will provide a theoretically grounded and evidence-based solution to the problem.
Preparation
For this assessment, choose a case study from Learning Theories: Case Studies. In addition, if you have not done so already, choose two theories from the following list that you will use for your comparison:
- Köhler’s insight theory/Gestalt.
- Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory of learning.
- Bruner’s discovery learning.
- Knowles’s andragogy.
- Rogers’s humanism (used as a theory of learning).
- Hebb’s neuropsychological theory.
- Miller’s information processing theory.
- Festinger’s theory of cognitive dissonance.
- Behaviorism (Pavlov / Watson / Skinner). Classical or operant conditioning.
- Bandura's social learning theory (1977) or Bandura's social cognitive theory (1986).
- Siegel’s connectivism.
- Mayer’s cognitive theory of multimedia learning.
The following library guide can assist you in how to search for theoretical articles:
- Finding Empirical / Non-Empirical Articles in Capella Library.
- Finding Learning Theory Articles at Capella Library.
Select a minimum of four scholarly articles from peer-reviewed journals from your research to support your comparison. Books and other sources can be used, if needed, in addition to the journal articles. Organize your research and begin drafting your paper.
For this assessment, you can use a combination of theoretical articles, other non-empirical articles, and empirical articles. It is up to you to decide which types of articles best work for what you want to present and to apply to the case. The articles do need to be from scholarly journals, however. You can combine these scholarly articles with professional sources, such as textbooks. Textbooks can be good sources for foundational information on theories.
Assessment Instructions
To complete this assessment, you will need to:
- Explain the basic assumptions, strengths, and limitations of each learning theory.
- Analyze the ability of each theory to explain and predict learning in a case.
- Using terms and concepts from your first theory, describe the case study, hypothesizing how this person has learned things so far to result in their current challenge. Then, predict what will come next for them using theoretical concepts.
- Then, using terms and concepts from your second theory, describe the case study once again, hypothesizing how this person has learned things so far to result in their current challenge. Then, predict what will come next for them using theoretical concepts.
- Analyze an intervention.
- Explore at least one intervention for the challenge presented in the case that would be grounded in or connected with one of the theories.
- Explain why it would work better than an intervention grounded in the alternate theory, using evidence from your research.
- Apply APA style and formatting to scholarly writing.
- Exhibit adherence to stylistic conventions, document structure, and source attributions.
Additional Requirements
- Written communication: Write coherently to support central ideas, in appropriate APA format, and with correct grammar, usage, and mechanics.
- Tone: Write in the third person, adhering to conventions of academic tone.
- Length of paper: 4–6 typed, double-spaced pages, not including the title page or reference page.
- References: At least four scholarly articles (from peer-reviewed journals). Books and other sources can be used, if needed, in addition to the journal articles. Professional sources, such as textbooks, can be a good source of foundational information on theories, their principles, and their concepts.
- APA format: Follow current APA guidelines for style and formatting, as well as for citing your resources in the body of your paper and in alphabetical order on the Reference page. Refer to the Evidence and APA section of the Writing Center for guidance.
- Font and font size: Times New Roman, 12 point, double-spaced.
Competencies Measured
By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies and scoring guide criteria:
- Competency 1: Apply learning theories, principles, and concepts to educational practices.
- Explain the basic assumptions, strengths, and limitations of one learning theory.
- Explain the basic assumptions, strengths, limitations of a second learning theory.
- Analyze the ability of each theory to explain and predict learning in a case.
- Competency 3: Analyze research methodology and findings in psychological and educational interventions.
- Analyze an intervention, using research articles to support the analysis.
- Competency 4: Communicate in a manner that is scholarly and consistent with expectations for professionals in the field of psychology.
- Address assessment purpose in a well-organized text, incorporating appropriate evidence and tone in grammatically sound sentences.
- Apply APA style and formatting to scholarly writing with few errors.