Navigating Learning Challenges and Theories

Image generated by OpenAI’s DALL·E 3

Learning can be a frustrating process, especially when it feels like progress is slow. One of my most challenging experiences was mastering APA formatting during my psychology degree. Despite countless attempts, I’d often lose marks for what felt like minor details.

To overcome this, I used a mix of strategies inspired by different learning theories. At first, I approached it behaviorally—relying on repetitive practice and feedback from online tools to reinforce the rules. Over time, I shifted to a cognitivist approach, organizing the rules into templates and creating connections between concepts. Eventually, this built a deeper understanding, transforming a frustrating challenge into a manageable skill.

Image generated by OpenAI’s DALL·E 3

Reflecting on this, it’s fascinating to see how these learning theories—behaviorism, cognitivism, and constructivism—can shape teaching. Take a high school class on climate change, for example:

• Behaviorism would focus on drills and immediate feedback, ensuring students memorize key concepts like the greenhouse effect. A useful resource for this approach could be interactive quizzes, such as those on Quizlet, to reinforce learning.

• Cognitivism would encourage students to map out ideas and connect them to prior knowledge, making the content meaningful. For instance, creating mind maps is a great way to visually organize information.

• Constructivism would go a step further, having students collaborate on real-world projects, like creating a community action plan. Platforms like Google Docs allow for easy collaboration in these kinds of projects.

In my own learning, I lean toward constructivism, finding hands-on experiences most effective, whether it’s repairing devices in my business or tackling projects. But I also value starting with behavioral techniques to build foundational skills and using cognitivist strategies for solid understanding.

Learning isn’t easy, but with the right approach, it becomes less about memorization and more about growth. Check out these TEDx talks on hands-on learning and The Learning Scientists Podcast for more insights. What learning strategies have helped you overcome challenges?

Comments on other peer’s blog posts:

From Luna’s blog post#1 here is my comment:

“This is a well-organized and thoughtful blog post, Luna! You’ve done a wonderful job connecting learning theories to your personal experiences and teaching strategies, making the concepts relatable and meaningful. Your example of hands-on, real-world learning through the EHR training module demonstrates how powerful constructivist approaches can be in fostering deeper understanding and engagement.

Reflecting on the different theories, it’s fascinating to consider how they shape not just individual learning experiences but also broader educational practices. How might these approaches influence the way we design learning environments for diverse groups of students? It’s also intriguing to think about how the balance between behaviorism, cognitivism, and constructivism might shift depending on the subject or context.

Your insights highlight how learning is not a one-size-fits-all process—it evolves with the learner, the situation, and the goals at hand. This makes me wonder: to what extent do we, as learners and educators, naturally gravitate toward certain theories, and how can we challenge ourselves to embrace a more holistic approach? Your reflections provide a great starting point for these broader conversations!”