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.
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.
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.
- 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.
- Apply APA style and formatting to scholarly writing.
- Exhibit adherence to stylistic conventions, document structure, and source attributions.
Biological and Neurological Bases of Learning
In your textbook, Learning Theories: An Educational Perspective, read the following:- Chapter 2, “Neuroscience of Learning.”
- Available in the courseroom via the VitalSource Bookshelf link. Watch this VitalSource video for further information.
Biological and Physiological Explanations of Learning
View the PBS video, Learn [Video], to learn about biological factors in development and learning.Refer to the following reading list:- Assessment 2: Biological and Neurological Factors in Learning reading list.
Learning Theories
Review the following resources on a variety of different learning theories.BehaviorismIn your textbook, Learning Theories: An Educational Perspective, read the following:- Chapter 3, “Behaviorism.”
- Assessment 2: Behaviorism.
- Chapter 5, “Information Processing Theory: Encoding and Storage.”
- Chapter 6, “Information Processing Theory: Retrieval and Forgetting.”
- Chapter 7, “Cognitive Learning Processes.”
- Assessment 2: Cognitive Theory.
- Chapter 4, “Social Cognitive Theory”.
- Assessment 2: Social Learning and Social Cognitive Theories.
- Chapter 8, “Constructivism.”
- Assessment 2: Constructivist and Connectionist Theories.
- Assessment 2: Siemens on Connectivism.
- Siemens explains the development of his theory and how his own experiences led to his formulations. Then, Siemens delves into his concerns and the future directions of the theory.