Learning Theories

All is well in theory, but we must be cautious not to assume that we can run a classroom solely with a constructivist theme. The ideal classroom would have every student thinking for him or herself and considering ideas from their individual unique perspectives. Unfortunately this is not the case, but in our striving to do so we can apply the learning theories to our individual situations. In some instances, students come to the classroom with all the background knowledge to build on the lesson of the day, whereas others come with very little knowledge and we must start from the ground and attempt to work our way up. The average classroom comes well equipped with various abilities and learning styles all requiring special accommodations to ensure learner success. Mergel (1998) suggests the use of a realistic model, which combines both objective and constructive theories.

Mergel, B. (1998). Instructional Design & Learning Theory. Retrieved. Sept 10,2008 from (http://www.usask.ca/education/coursework/802papers/mergel/brenda.htm