Behaviorism vs.

Cognitivism
Theories of Learning
By: Elva V. Gonzalez

The foundations of

Behaviorism were built on the work of

Watson and B.F.Skinner, and

Cognitivism were built on the work of

Vygotsky, Dewey, Piaget and Bruner.

Behaviorism
a theory that its perspective may be defined as a change of behavior as a result of experience-that can be measured.

Cognitivism
a theory that its perspective is a change in mental representations and associations brought about by experiences.

How Does Learning Occur?

Behavior theories

Cognitive theories

Determine which cues elicit the desired responses. Arrange practice situations so they will prompt elicit responses in a natural setting. Arrange environmental conditions to enhance stimuli. Focus on the design of the environment to optimize learning. Use feedback (reinforcement) to modify behavior in the desired direction.

Focus on the mental activities of the learner. Acknowledge the processes of the mental planning, goal-setting, and organizational strategies. Stress over efficient processing strategies. Make use of feedback (knowledge of feedback) to guide and support accurate mental connections.

Behaviorism and Cognitivism

are both a good way of teaching and learning processes, however, there are some differences between them which is very significant.

Control
Behaviorist: presentation of scientifically
graded language items.

Cognitivist: grading, but not so scientifically

controlled. Cognitive grading is also important, in terms of what the learner brings to the activity of learning.

Error
Behaviorist: should not be made at all.

Cognitivist: can be made, since through errors

one can learn.

Exposure
Behaviorist: necessary, but in a linguistically
controlled way.

Cognitivist: plenty, and its necessary.

Practice
Behaviorist: drills and drills, constant
repetition is definitely necessary.

Cognitivist: is important, but rote learning and

meaningless repetition is out.

Role of the Learner

Behaviorist: a passive recipient of planned instruction. Cognitivist: an active processor of learning.
One whose internal data processing mechanism operate.

Role of the Teacher

Behaviorist: one who teaches, plans,
presents language items and exercises, makes students repeat drills and gives correct language forms.

Cognitivist: one who creates opportunities for

learning to occur with the help of the learners data processing mechanism.

The Language Syllabus

Behaviorist: based on the structures and
vocabulary of language presented systematically.

Cognitivist: could be less systematically

presented structures and vocabulary, functions, notions, situations, and cognitive functions.

Grading of Items
Behaviorist: Strict, clear, step by step (lockstep method)

Cognitivist: no so definite, since the

individual language learner is involved.

Behaviorism Cognitivism

Behaviorism and Cognitivism are two learning theories that even though they have their differences, both theories emphasize the role that environmental conditions play in facilitating learning, as well as emphasis on the role of practice with corrective feedback.

References
Abbie Brown & Timothy D. Green (2006), The Essentials of Instructional Design., Pearson Education , Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey http://www.forerunner.com/forerunner/X0497_DeMar_Behaviorism.html What is Behaviorism? By Kendra Van Wagner http://psychology.about.com/od/behavioralpsychology/f/behaviorism/htm http://geocities.com/learningenviornments/learningenvironments.html Linguistics Valleys: theory of Teaching: Behaviorism and Cognitivism http://linguisticsearch.blogspot.com/2006/12/theory-of-teachingbehaviorism.htm Cognitive Theories of Learning http://www.personal/psu/edu/users/w/x/wxh139/cognitive_1.htm Learning-Theories (2008) http://www.learning-theories.com/cognitive.html 1998-2008 Funderstanding http://funderstanding.com/content/behavirism