Discuss the behaviourist and cognitive theories of learning. Evaluate the implication of each for the classroom setting

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Discuss the behaviourist and cognitive theories of learning. Evaluate the implication of each for the classroom setting

This paper will discuss both behaviourist and cognitive theories. It will comment on both theories and apply them to a classroom setting. The paper will look at classical, operant and social theory of learning.

Behaviourism developed its principles from the work of Pavlov and Thorndike, namely classical and operant conditioning. Hill (2003) states classical conditioning is the process in which people learn to associate reflex responses with certain stimuli. Pavlov found that dogs would start salivating before the food was introduced to them. Hill (2003) affirms Pavlov found for learning to take place, the two stimuli had to be presented close together in time. If the time between the appearance of the neutral stimulus and the appearance of the unconditional stimulus was too large then learning would not take place. The conditional stimulus will result in a conditional response. Flanagan (2001) asserts, some features of classical conditioning include; extinction, generalisation, timing and discrimination.

Within the classroom it is important for teachers to ensure students only associate pleasant and positive emotional responses with educational situations. Classical conditioning can be seen as