An Introduction to Learning Theories

Learning theories attempt to break down and explain how people learn. We can use these theories to understand how to teach others effectively, as well as how to effectively learn ourselves. Different learning theories can be applied in different environments, and people tend to identify more strongly with some learning theories over others.

As technology advances at an exponential rate, the way we learn and teach changes with it. Because of technology, students and teachers have completely new methods of communication. We can have entire classes coordinated online, with students and teachers never needing to see each other. This is a relatively new concept that certainly has a drastic impact on the way we learn. As a student in an online course, I'd like to explore which learning theory best supports my own approach to learning in an online environment.