There are various theories of learning that include; Constructivism, Behaviorism, Piaget’s Developmental Theory, Neuroscience, Brain-Based Learning, Learning Styles, Multiple Intelligences, Right Brain/Left Brain Thinking, Communities of Practice, Control Theory, Observational Learning, and Vygotsky and Social Cognition.
Constructivism can be explained as a philosophy of learning based on reflecting on the past. This helps people to understand the world they are in. There are various principles guiding constructivism, for instance, learning always searches for meaning, and the meaning must be understood as a whole and all the parts involved; the mental models must be understood for effective learning to take place; and lastly, the construction of meaning by the student is the purpose of learning.
Constructivism is important since it impacts the training manual by promoting customized training content for the learners. It also enhances the instructions to be customized and tailored to the training strategies hence employees stand a better chance to analyze, interpret and predict what is being taught. In assessment, it eliminates the grades and standardized testing and encourages assessment to be included in the learning process for learners to judge themselves.
Behaviorism is mainly based on objectively seen behaviors and mental activities. Psychologists define learning here as having new behavior.
Mostly, this is seen in conditioning which is of two types, classical and operant. Classical is a natural reflex and can be said to be a response to a reflex. Behavioral/operant conditioning on the other hand is reinforcing a response to stimuli which is a feedback process.
Behaviorism has an effect on learning in that it gives positive and negative techniques of reinforcement. This is used in punishment or rewarding processes to enhance performance in the organization. Moreover, behaviorism contrasts constructivism in that the understanding of the learners prompts the trainer’s actions.
Neuroscience deals with the nervous system, brain, consciousness, perception, memory, and learning. Moreover, neuroscience affects learning in that the trainers will organize an all-inclusive curriculum and the instructions will be designed to encourage creative thinking since it is designed as per the brain capacity.
Brain-Based Learning focuses on the structure and function of the human brain. It makes the tutors come up with a curriculum that incorporates learners’ interests and the general context of learning, thus helping them to gauge their performance with the encouragement of the administration.
Learning Styles are based on perception and different ways of processing information. It generally groups them into two, concrete and abstract perceivers, and active and reflective processors. Practice theory is based on membership. This expresses the structure and practices of the community that the learner is involved in. Therefore, this tends to be effective in training the learners on the culture of the organization based on the principle that knowledge cannot be separated from practice. The control theory works on the principle that the learner behaves in a manner that is responsive to his/her desire and therefore the trainer will assume the role of a boss to force the learner to follow set paths that are beneficial to both the trainee and the organization.
Observational Learning is referred to as social learning theory and the observed behavior is responsible for transforming the learner into good or bad. Positive behaviors are emphasized so that all learners transform into acceptable members of the organization.