How Do We Learn?

Introduction

Think about the last time you learned something new. Did you learn it by practicing, memorizing, watching someone else, or thinking it through?

In this WebQuest we will talk about:

Cognitive Psychology
Behaviorism
Social Cognitive Theory

The goal is to figure out how each theory explains learning, and which one makes sense to you.

Task

You will create a word document and make a written and visual comparison of the three theories.

You must have:

A definition of each theory
How learning happens
One classroom example
Strengths and weaknesses
A conclusion paragraph explaining which theory you agree with the most

Process

1. Research each theory and use these websites:

Study Guides for Psychology Students - Simply Psychology

Verywell Mind - Know More. Live Brighter.

Cognitive Psychology News Journal | Journal of Cognitive Psychology

2.Create headings

Cognitive Psychology
Behaviorism
Social Cognitive Theory

3. Write a paragraph for each theory

4. Create a comparison chart and put in your information:

Theory	How learning happens	Classroom example
Cognitive Psychology
Behaviorism
Social Cognitive Theory

5. Write your conclusion paragraph:

Which theory do you agree with the most?
Why?
How would it affect your learning?

Evaluation

Criteria	Excellent (4)	Good (3)	Okay (2)	Needs Improvement (1)
Content	Detailed & accurate	Mostly accurate	Missing some information	Missing information
Writing	Clear & organized	Some clarity issues	Hard to follow	Missing
Comparison	Strong analysis	Some comparison	Limited	Missing
Chart	Complete & clear	Mostly complete	Some complete	Incomplete
Reflection	Deep thinking	Explained	Some explaination	No effort

Conclusion

Now that you have learned some about these theories:

Do you think learning is mostly mental, behavioral, or social?
Can one theory fully explain learning? Or do we need all three?
How could teachers use these theories in classrooms without students noticing?