Learning Theories: The Philosophical Family Tree
I recently came across this diagram from G. Stahl that outlines the philosophical influences behind prominent English-Language learning theories. It is definitely a good start, but like any overview, invites refinement (e.g. a lot more could go between Kant and constructivism than just Piaget, or between Hegel and situated cognition than Heidegger). The preponderance of continental thinkers in this diagram is also interesting, as is the absence of learning theories outside of those familiar in English-language research (e.g. theme-centered interaction).
I refer to this diagram in my discussion of the interrelationship between Anglo-American and German-language educational theory. It occurs on pp. 3-10 of this much revised version of a paper on (Micro)didaktiks. I describe how the two traditions have been divided since Thorndike’s scientific approach to the study of learning beat out Dewey’s humanistic/interdisciplinary emphases. I then explain how these two traditions have again been converging in their recent, common engagement with the media of the WWW, and their common preoccupation with the situated and dialogical aspects of learning.
Hi Norm, thanks for the comment you emailed me. I was curious to find out that you are looking into the differences of American and German tradition of education, which interest me as well. I downloaded your paper and am looking forward to reading it. I’ll get back to you then! Thanks, Susanne
Comment by Susanne Heyer — September 4, 2006 @ 3:29 pm
Sources philosophique des thories dapprentissage [schma]
La querelle entre les empiristes et les rformistes qui dchire le monde de lducation repose sur des approches philosophiques divergentes. Norm Friesen attire notre attention sur une reprsentation des influences philosophiques qui divisent le monde de ld…
Trackback by Guitef — September 17, 2006 @ 9:46 pm