Learning Theories

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Study various theories of learning and how they apply to museum education, including constructivism, experiential learning, social learning, and more.

Behaviorism: A learning theory that focuses on shaping behavior through positive and negative reinforcement.
Constructivism: A theory that argues that learners construct their understanding of knowledge by combining new information with existing knowledge.
Social learning theory: This theory shows how individuals learn through observation, imitation, and modeling behavior.
Cognitive load theory: This theory suggests the presence of a limit on how much information the human brain can process.
Situated learning theory: This theory argues that learning is contextual and occurs within a specific social and cultural environment.
Multiple intelligences theory: This theory suggests that there are various distinct forms of intelligence that individuals possess.
Experiential learning theory: This theory emphasizes learning through experience and reflection on the experience.
Inquiry-based learning: This approach focuses on questioning and seeking answers to promote critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Connectivism: This learning theory emphasizes the increased worth of information to learners as they access it in the process of constructing their knowledge.
Learning styles: This theory suggests that different individuals learn and process information in distinct ways.
Constructivism Theory: This theory asserts that learners construct new knowledge and understanding based on their previous experiences and prior understanding.
Experiential Learning Theory: This theory emphasizes that learning occurs through reflection upon experience as well as active experimentation.
Multiple Intelligence Theory: This theory suggests that learners possess different intellectual abilities and that teaching strategies should vary according to these differences.
Behaviorism Theory: This theory focuses on observable behaviors and how they can be manipulated through reinforcement and punishment.
Gestalt Theory: This theory asserts that learners create meaning through active perception and interpretation of their environments.
Social Learning Theory: This theory emphasizes the importance of social interaction and the influence of others on the learning process.
Humanism Theory: This theory stresses the need for an individual-centered approach that focuses on the development and growth of the learner.
Situated Learning Theory: This theory asserts that learning occurs within the context of authentic experiences and problem-solving situations.
Cognitive Load Theory: This theory emphasizes the importance of managing cognitive load during learning to aid retention and comprehension.
Information Processing Theory: This theory suggests that learners process information through a series of stages, including attention, processing, and retrieval.
"individuals or learners do not acquire knowledge and understanding by passively perceiving it within a direct process of knowledge transmission, rather they construct new understandings and knowledge through experience and social discourse."
"integrating new information with what they already know (prior knowledge)."
"This includes knowledge gained prior to entering school."
"It is associated with various philosophical positions, particularly in epistemology as well as ontology, politics, and ethics."
"The origin of the theory is also linked to Swiss developmental psychologist Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development."