WHAT IS LEARNING THEORIES?

Learning theories are how individuals absorb, process, and recall knowledge. By knowing and studying the different learning theories, we can understand more better how the learning occurs. The theories give the different perspective and learning theories divided into three which are behaviorism, cognitive, and constructive.

Behaviorism theory is the knowledge that exist independently and outside the people. It also still dominates approaches to teaching and learning. Mind is a black box that have input and output while learning. When we in process of learning we can get the input like the objectives learning and the output is when we can give feedback from the learning. For example, students study for the test (input) and get a good result (output) or practice makes perfect. We can call that learning is regular and expected responses.

Cognitive theory is focused on identifying metal processes that affect learning, thinking, and behavior. Cognitive approaches to learning cover a wide range. Based on Bloom's Taxanomy, cognitive can we divide it into knowledge, comprehension, application, evaluation, synthesis and analysis. For knowledge, we can recall the information, data, facts and concepts from teaching and learning process. For comprehensions, we have to understanding the meaning, explain with own words and compare it with the others. For application, we have to use knowledge to apply it in the new situations and try to solve the problems. For evaluation, we have to choose the best answer and defend it with the principles and value. For synthesis, we will know the own structure, new meaning, new pattern and know how to combine the elements. For analysis, at the end of teaching and learning we have to how to analyze the questions,compare the answer with the other and try to break it into parts to make the easy work for students. 

Constructive theory is the theory that construct our knowledge and ideas based on individual experiences. Based on Jean Piaget idea, theories of four childhood stages of development. First, sensorimotor stage (birth to 2 years old). This stage child try to builds an understanding of their interactions with the environments. Child can be able to differentiate between them self and the others objects. Second, preoperational stage (ages 2 to 4 years old). This stage show that the child is not be able to conceptual abstractly and need to concrete physical situations. Third, concrete operations (ages 7 to 11 years old). This stage try to help child to creating logical structures that explain their physical experiences. Fourth, formal operations (ages 11 to 15 years old). This stage show that the children no longer requires concrete objects to make rational judgement. They ability for abstract thinking similar to an adult.

For the conclusion, the three of this theories are important to consider the level of knowledge of the learners, the thought processing demands and the desired outcome.