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Behaviorism is a learning theory that examines how an individual learns through interactions with their environment. One of the main principles of this theory is that all behaviors are learned through conditioning. Conditioning is defined as the process of reinforcement and punishment. Under this theory learning is considered a change in behavior that is observable and results from an experience.

Some early behaviorists were individuals such as John Watson and B.F. Skinner. These behaviorists supported the idea that psychology is a science composed of observable and measurable behaviors and events.

Some ways that behaviorism can be demonstrated in an eLearning environment through the instructional design process are:

-Multiple choice quizzes with one distinguishable and correct answer.

-Ordering learning in sequence and practicing that knowledge though sequencing activities.

-Drag and drop interactions.

An important characteristic of the application of behaviorism in eLearning is there is a single correct response. In all of these interactions a learner would be presented with feedback that clearly reinforces the correct answer (desired behavior) or the incorrect answer (undesired behavior).

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Unlike behaviorism cognitivism goes beyond observable behavior and focuses more on the mental process that happens when learning is occurring. Some of the key attributes of cognitivism are:

The mind is processor. It helps the learner process, store, and retrieve information.

A focus on the creation and use of mental representations to understand the world. Some examples of this are schemas and cognitive maps.

Learners are viewed as an active participant in their own learning process. This means they are involved in things like critical thinking and problem solving to develop their knowledge.

Cognitivism became popular in the 1950s in opposition to behaviorism. Some of these theorist were Bloom, Bruner, Vygotsky, and one of the most popular; Piaget.

One major instructional design practice that demonstrates cognitivism is chunking information. When content is chunked into management sections with like content, the learner is able to manage their cognitive load which leads to an enhanced understanding. Cognitivism backs that ths approach leads to better learner comprehension and long-term retention.

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Piaget's Theory of Cognitive Development

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The constructivism learning theory is based on the idea that a learner's reality is determined by their experiences. This is backed by the construct that people make their own knowledge. This theory is based on the work of Jean Piaget in conjunction with his work surrounding the cognitive behavioral theory. Constructivism also theorizes that:

Active and hands-on learning is what constructs a learner's knowledge and understanding.

Learners thrive in an environment where they can socialize. This theory supports group work and discussions to help solidify their knowledge.

Practice helps learners apply their knowledge. Engaging with real-life scenarios makes learning more transferable and relevant.

In instructional design this theory can be demonstrated by creating ILT that is less focused on the facilitator and more on the learners. This can be done by designing a course that is full of opportunities for the learner to discuss what they are learning, for example in group discussions or debriefs after major modules or sections of content. In a self-paced course where socialization isn't possible, this theory can be applied by giving the learner real-life practice scenarios where they can apply their knowledge to a situation they may actually experience.