Blog Post #1: Understanding Learning Through Different Learning Theories

One learning challenge I experienced in my first year was adjusting to the pace of university. In high school, I was used to learning by following examples, memorizing steps and then practicing similar problems. That approach worked well for a while, but I soon realized that university-level material required a much deeper understanding. I could not just copy a method and expect every problem to look the same. I had to understand why a formula worked and when to use it.

Looking back, I can see how different learning theories were involved in this process. Behaviorism was useful when I needed repetition and feedback. For example, doing practice problems and checking the answers helped me recognize my mistakes, improve my approach and build confidence. However, behaviorism alone was not enough because it focused mostly on getting the correct answer, rather than fully understanding the concept behind it. As Ertmer and Newby (2018) explain, behaviorist learning focuses on observable changes in behaviour, which connects to practice and reinforcement.

Cognitivism became important because I had to organize information in my mind. I started breaking problems into steps, identifying what was given, choosing the right formula and connecting new concepts to ones I already knew. This helped me feel less overwhelmed when a problem looked unfamiliar. Constructivism also played a role because I learned better when I applied concepts to real examples. Since I am in engineering, topics feel more meaningful when I can connect them to buildings, materials or real design problems. Instead of only memorizing long equations, I started building my own understanding through problem-solving and reflection. This made learning feel more practical because I could see how the concepts might be used outside of the classroom.

Connectivism also connects to my experience because I often learned from online resources, YouTube videos, and study group discussions. Sometimes an in-class explanation from a professor was not enough, so I used different sources to further familiarize myself with the material and build a stronger understanding. Weller (2020) explains that connectivism emphasizes learning through networks, which reflects how I used different digital resources and a network of people to support my learning. Overall, this challenge taught me that effective learning needs more than one approach. Practice, a clear structure, real-world application and connection with others all helped me become a better learner.

image taken from: https://potomac.edu/types-of-learning-styles/

References

Ertmer, P. A., & Newby, T. J. (2018). Behaviorism, cognitivism, constructivism: Comparing critical features from an instructional design perspective. In R. E. West (Ed.), Foundations of learning and instructional design technology. EdTech Books. https://edtechbooks.org/lidtfoundations/behaviorism_cognitivism_constructivism

Weller, M. (2020). Connectivism. In 25 years of ed tech. Athabasca University Press. https://read.aupress.ca/read/25-years-of-ed-tech/section/198057f5-1a3e-4436-a4b8-c6e1a3e0bd69