BHAVIORISM COGNITIVISM &

CONSTRUCTIVISM IMPLICATIONS IN
TEACHING AND LEARNING OF
PHYSICAL SCIENCE

LEARNING THOERIES
BEHAVIORISM
COGNITIVISM
CONSTRUCTIVISM

BEHAVIORISM

Learning is due to an observable change in

behaviour.
If we alter a persons environment ,we will
alter his /her thought, feelings, behaviour .
Stimulus -Response mechanism.
Learning involves repetition and association
The system is based on reward and
Punishment .
John.B.Watson , Ivan Pavlov , B.F. Skinner
and E.L.Thorndike .

IMPLICATIONS IN TEACHING

Provide stimulus
Teacher should present material in small
portions
Teacher should use repetition and lots of
practice
Provide positive reinforcement
Teachers should offer rewards for correct
responses
Technology

COGNITIVISM

Cognitivism was an attempt to explain what was

occurring in the mind during learning.
Cognitive theory looks at how information travels
from the sensory memory to the working memory
to the long term memory.
This theory focuses on gaining and maintaining
learners attention.
After the learners attention is gained, rehearsal
and visuals are used to move the information in
the memories.
Jean Piaget and J. Anderson

Information from
senses
Sensory memory

IMPLICATIONS IN TEACHING

In a cognitive classroom learning takes place through

using strategies to acquire facts , skill and concepts.
Technological aides can be used to show videos and
visuals.
Use repetition and review, mnemonics to remember
formula and facts.
Assist learners to recall prior knowledge and
experience.
Teacher serves as a modeler of strategies.

CONSTRUCTIVISM
Constructivism is child-centered, rather than
curriculum based.
Constructivism focuses on knowledge
construction.
It is a belief that one constructs knowledge from
one's experiences and prior understandings.
The ideas and interests of children drive the
learning process.

Constructivist view of learning argues that the

students do not come to the science classroom
empty-headed.
It emphasis discovery, experimentation and openended problems have been successfully applied in
science.
Jean Piaget: A child constructs understanding
through many channels: such as reading, listening,
exploring and experiencing his or her environment.
Lev Vygotsky : He believed that the influences of
cultural and social contexts played an important part
in learning and supports a discovery model of
learning.

TEACHER IN A CONSTRUCTIVISTIC
CLASSROOM

Identify students ideas and views.

Creating opportunities for students to explore their
ideas and to test their robustness in explaining a
phenomena.
Provide stimuli for students to develop , modify, and
where necessary change their ideas and views.
Supporting their attempts to re-think and reconstruct
their ideas and views.

IMPLICATIONS IN TEACHING

Use students existing knowledge to guide teaching.

Guide students to generate explanations and
interpretations.
Devise incisive questions.
Choose materials and activities for students to test
ideas.
Provide a classroom atmosphere conductive to
discussion.

Provide opportunities for students to utilise new ideas.

QUESTIONS
1.
2.
3.
4.

Explain constructivist approach in learning.

Explain the similarities and differences in Piagets
and Vygotskys theories related to constructivism.
Write a lesson plan format in chemistry or in
physics based on constructivism.
Discuss basic theory of piaget. Explain its
application in science education with suitable
examples.

THANK YOU