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How Do Cognitivism and Behaviorism Differ in Understanding Learning?

Cognitivism and behaviorism are two different ways to think about how we learn. They each focus on different parts of the learning process.

Behaviorism is all about what we can see. It says that learning happens through interactions between a stimulus (like a question or a task) and a response (like getting an answer right). A good example is when a student gets a reward, like a sticker or extra points, for finishing their homework. This makes the student want to do it again in the future. People like B.F. Skinner believed that rewards and punishments are super important for learning. In classrooms, teachers often use reward systems to encourage good behavior and help students do well in school.

On the flip side, Cognitivism digs deeper than just what we can see. It studies what happens inside our minds when we learn. This means looking at how we think, remember things, and solve problems. Cognitivism says that learning is about organizing and making sense of information. For instance, when a student learns math, they create mental pictures and ideas to help understand new concepts. Jean Piaget talked about how we go through stages of thinking as we grow up, showing that learning is something we actively build in our minds.

Key Differences:

  • Focus: Behaviorism looks at actions we can see, while cognitivism focuses on how we think.
  • Learning Method: Behaviorism is about rewards and consequences; cognitivism deals with how we process and organize information.
  • Learner's Role: In behaviorism, learners are seen as passive or just following instructions. In cognitivism, they are active and engaged in their own learning.

To sum it up, behaviorism believes that learning changes what we do because of outside influences. Cognitivism, however, views learning as a mental process where we understand and think about information in our own way.

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How Do Cognitivism and Behaviorism Differ in Understanding Learning?

Cognitivism and behaviorism are two different ways to think about how we learn. They each focus on different parts of the learning process.

Behaviorism is all about what we can see. It says that learning happens through interactions between a stimulus (like a question or a task) and a response (like getting an answer right). A good example is when a student gets a reward, like a sticker or extra points, for finishing their homework. This makes the student want to do it again in the future. People like B.F. Skinner believed that rewards and punishments are super important for learning. In classrooms, teachers often use reward systems to encourage good behavior and help students do well in school.

On the flip side, Cognitivism digs deeper than just what we can see. It studies what happens inside our minds when we learn. This means looking at how we think, remember things, and solve problems. Cognitivism says that learning is about organizing and making sense of information. For instance, when a student learns math, they create mental pictures and ideas to help understand new concepts. Jean Piaget talked about how we go through stages of thinking as we grow up, showing that learning is something we actively build in our minds.

Key Differences:

  • Focus: Behaviorism looks at actions we can see, while cognitivism focuses on how we think.
  • Learning Method: Behaviorism is about rewards and consequences; cognitivism deals with how we process and organize information.
  • Learner's Role: In behaviorism, learners are seen as passive or just following instructions. In cognitivism, they are active and engaged in their own learning.

To sum it up, behaviorism believes that learning changes what we do because of outside influences. Cognitivism, however, views learning as a mental process where we understand and think about information in our own way.

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