environment, it can be somewhat easier
Behaviorism Is
Dated...
Cognitivism is the Future for
Instructional Designers
Assignment:​ Op-Ed Column, Assignment 2
Team Name: ​“The Raft”
Recorder:​ Tasia Rosas
Coordinator: ​Chris Beebe
Researcher:​ Ryan Quesenberry
Researcher: ​Tyler Provost
​ he Chronicle of
Recommended for: T
Higher Education
In the ever changing field of Instructional
Design, it is crucial to re-assess and
reevaluate how we are creating training
programs for learners. With that in mind, it is
important to start at the root of how we learn
and recall information from a psychological
standpoint. This in turn, brings up a relevant
conversation about how we have designed
programs in the past, what models we have
used, and how they need to be modified for
future learners.
Behaviorism: What is it and
Why Has it Been so Influential?
Behaviorism and the “Behavioral Learning
Theory,” have been the leading influences
in the past in terms of structuring programs
for learners. There are some definite
benefits to this program which is why it has
been the standard method for instructional
designers. Because this theory relies
heavily on observing behavior and seeing
how a subject responds to a stimuli in their
through observation to create or modify
goals based on how learners are currently
responding. The theory behind this model
relies on a learner becoming conditioned
over time to respond to a stimuli in their
environment and then the desired behavior
is reinforced. The way that we can translate
this in terms of how this affects Instructional
Design, is that programs should be
designed in a way that we “value success
as motivating and place​ more importance
on extrinsic rewards​, goal setting, and
goal achievement, rather than on intrinsic
rewards” (Deubel, 72). While extrinsic
rewards are highly motivating, ideally,
intrinsic motivation can be more effective.
The problem with the behavioral mindset is
that it does not factor that applying what is
learned is only relevant based on how it
used in specific circumstances.
From a business standpoint, relying on a
behaviorist approach can, “lead to longer
training sessions and require more time to
retrain learners because there is an ability
to transfer knowledge to a new situation”
(Sibler, 59). Businesses want to streamline
learning in a model that doesn’t require
excess time; instead they want instructional
designers to create programs that are
effective and allow their employees to retain
knowledge and apply it in a relevant and
practical manner. “With the current
approach, learners often have trouble
generalizing their training from one situation
to another, leading to skill gaps every time
the job, content or technology changes”
(Sibler, 59). For these reasons, it becomes
obvious that a different approach needs to
be taken into consideration when designing
programs.
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 While there are some limited benefits to the
An Alternative to Behaviorism behavioral learning theory, it is obvious that
there are other approaches that are more
Fortunately, there are just as many
effective. A cognitivist approach overall is a
psychological theories for memory and
more effective theory in creating authentic
learning as there are models for designing
and successful learners in both an
programs. Cognitivism, for example, could
educational and businesses setting.
be a more successful model to use than
behaviorism for the current generation of
References:
learners. The way that we use long term
(2014, February 20). ​Head Squeeze.
information involves your brain recalling the
Retrieved September 02, 2018, from
memory (encoding), then “brain glue,” also
https://youtu.be/TUoJc0NPajQ
known as consolidation, helps hold the
memory together. The final step is retrieval;
Deubel, P. (2003). An investigation of
this is the best way to boost your memory.
behaviorist and cognitive approaches to
The more you recall, the stronger the
instructional multimedia design. ​Journal of
memory becomes (Video, Head Squeeze).
Educational Multimedia and Hypermedia​,
This is primarily how the concept of
12(​ 1), 63+. Retrieved from
cognitivism, or the cognitive information
http://link.galegroup.com.library2.csumb.edu
processing theory works.
:2048/apps/doc/A104081463/AONE?u=csu
mb_main&sid=AONE&xid=a54e85cc
Cognitivism relies more on a metacognitive
approach; how do we think about our
Graham, George, "Behaviorism", ​The
thinking? The Information Processing
Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
Theory has a cognitive approach and
(Spring 2017 Edition), Edward N. Zalta
focuses more on how information is stored,
(ed.), URL =
organized and retrieved. If we connect this
<https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/spr2017
back to how our memory works, the best
/entries/behaviorism/>.
way for us to strengthen our long-term
memory is to frequently recall information
Reiser, R. A., & Dempsey, J. V. (2017).
we have learned and apply it. If we then
Trends and issues in instructional design
think about this in terms of what an
and technology​. Boston: Pearson
instructional designer would do functionally
Education.
in designing programs from this approach,
“for cognitivists, tutoring involves coaching
Sibler, K. H. (1998). The Cognitive
and scaffolding at appropriate times.
Approach to Training Development: A
Assessment becomes integrated, authentic,
Practitioner's Assessment.
and inseparable from activities themselves
ETR&D-Development,​ ​46(​ 4), 58-71.
(Atkins, 1993).” This should be the end
Retrieved September 2, 2018.
result for any successful program; learning
should be authentic and should not be a
response to a single activity.

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