In virtually all professional fields, individuals operate within one or more theoretical frameworks, often without realizing it. A theoretical framework serves as a blueprint or roadmap, comprising ideas, perceptions, observations, and articulations that frame our understanding of a particular process. It’s essentially a model that explains why certain phenomena occur. Those of us who work in education are no different. In fact, actively initiating an awareness of different theories and frameworks that can be employed can drastically improve the learning experiences we create.
Consider educational learning theorists who work with current knowledge and data to develop new theories by identifying learning processes. Theorists might observe a unique, effective way that learners acquire and retain information. They actively study, identify, refine, and articulate a coherent understanding of the steps and patterns involved, and provide a name to the observed process.
This theory helps others understand how to teach learners effectively and to apply a guiding framework in efforts to create an effective learning journey. Educators can actively implement the theory into their preparation, material development, and delivery. They can call on the principles and key ideas within the theoretical learning framework as needed. Such enactment of a theory is called praxis. Theories in the educational space allow for the creation of different tools and teaching styles that interconnect with the postulates within these theories.
Five Major Learning Theories
Within educational theory, there are five major learning theories. Learning theories are best understood as the different ideas, understandings, and propositions focused on the ways students learn and retain knowledge and information. Learning theories are interesting because they are inherently quite interdisciplinary. That said, you will notice that learning theories often intersect with or originate from psychology.
There is no one “best” theoretical approach, but over time, some theories have proven to be more relevant and enduring and, therefore, continue to shape how educators train and approach their teaching. What these theories share is that they all endeavour to understand and explain the process of learning in order to support educators in implementing suitable, efficacious, and systematic teaching approaches.
So, what are the five key learning theories?
- Behaviourism
- Constructivism
- Cognitivism
- Humanism
- Connectivism
Behaviourism is a learning theory which posits that learning is a matter of stimulus-response associations. In simple terms, a stimulus-response association refers to the connection between:
1. Something in the environment, such as a sight, sound, or smell—the stimulus
2. The behaviour or action that is triggered by the stimulus—the response
In this sense, the thing learned is the tendency to produce a particular response when presented with a specific stimulus. For example, a dog learning to sit when it hears the command “sit” has developed a tendency to perform the sitting action (response) when it hears that specific word (stimulus).
Applied to education, the idea is that educators can use training, repetition, and reinforcement to change how someone acts and behaves. Observable behaviour and comportment act as a means of assessment and teaching. Ivan Pavlov, John Watson, and Burrhus Skinner are typically considered the originators of this learning theory.
Constructivism is a learning theory that positions the learner in an active role during the learning process. Constructivism suggests that learners actively produce knowledge by building on past and present experiences. Educators, within this context, should promote critical thinking, collaboration, and effective problem-solving.
Lev Vygotsky, Jean Piaget, and Jerome Bruner are typically recognized as having played a major role in the production of this theory.
Cognitivism is a learning theory that emphasizes mental processes, such as memory, attention, focus, and general cognition, as the driving forces behind effective learning. The goal here is to improve cognitive development and memory systems.
Jerome Bruner and Albert Bandura are often heralded as being key contributors to this learning theory.
Humanism is a holistic learning theory that views learners as complex, multi-faceted human beings. It emphasizes individuals’ autonomy, individuality, and freedom, focusing on more than just cognition by considering components of humanness such as emotionality. The ultimate goal of humanism is to facilitate self-actualization for learners.
Notable contemporary theorists associated with this movement include Paolo Freire, Carl Rogers, Abraham Maslow, Maria Montessori, and John Dewey.
Connectivism is a learning theory positing that learning can occur through connecting and interacting with other people. This theory places significant emphasis on technology, as digital tools and online resources increase connectivity and subsequent learning opportunities.
George Siemens and Stephen Downes are frequently associated with connectivism.
Theories are not just the grand ideas that we as educators learn in teacher’s college. They are the roadmaps and guiding lights that help us create learning experiences with immense intentionality and purposefulness. Next time you are planning a course, a class, a module, or any learning activity, don’t forget to call on different theories that will help you optimize these learning moments.
Related Links
Dwyer, C. (July 31,2020). What Is a “Theory” and Why Is It Important to Know?. Psychology Today. Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/thoughts-thinking/202007/what-is-theory-and-why-is-it-important-know
Friesen, Norm & Kenklies, Karsten. (2021). What is Pedagogy?. 2021. 26-31.
Leonard, & D. C. (2002). Learning theories: A to Z. Bloomsbury Publishing USA.
McDonald, J., & West, R. (2021). Design for Learning: Principles, Processes, and Praxis. EdTech Books.
Schunk, Dale H. (2012) Learning theories an educational perspective. Pearson Education, Inc, 2012.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
William Horton
William Horton, B.A., B.Ed., M.Ed., is the Manager of Educational Support and Digital Innovation in the Faculty of Health & Life Sciences at Humber Polytechnic.
This article is featured in Canadian Teacher Magazine’s Spring 2026 issue.
