To investigate the use of e-learning technologies, it is important to understand the concept of learning through various learning theories. It is also important to understand the implications of different learning theories for the development of e-learning. These theoretical approaches are summarized around behaviorism, cognitivism, constructivism and connectivism. This chapter adopts a constructivist approach in terms of analyzing the effects of the use of Web 2.0 technologies in e-learning in the academic environment.
The Behaviorism
The behavioral approach to learning has been a dominant psychological approach in the design of curriculum and educational technology. Most behaviorists agree on the fact that education should have a specific objective (s) and how instruction should be presented sequentially starting with the presentation of simple facts followed by more complex information (Gillani, 2003). The behavioral approach asserts that learning is manifested in behavior (changed or reinforced), and behavior can be conditioned by a system of punishments and rewards (Elliott, 2009).
Behaviorism is primarily associated with Pavlov's theory of classical conditioning, Skinner's theory of operant conditioning and Thorndike's theory of connectionism (Rawlings and al., 2004). Classical conditioning refers to a learning process that occurs through associations between an environmental stimulus and natural (Gillani, 2003), while operant conditioning is another type of associative learning process that occurs if the answers operating are properly reinforced, and then they are rooted in human behavior (Skinner, 1974). Connectionism refers to learning as a process of habit formation, or by making a link between stimulus and response (Gillani, 2003). The first behaviorist approaches treat each learner as equal and learning was thought to be reactive with little or no differentiation among individuals (Wolf, 2007). Within the parameters of the class, behaviorism implies domination of the teacher who is responsible for the formation of the learner. Learning in these environments takes place in a highly controlled environment with little or no emphasis on the mental processes that take place within learners considering it as a “black box” (Elliott, 2009).
The principles of behavioral learning have been applied to several models of teaching such as Mastery Learning, Direct Instruction Model and Programmed Instruction. During the 1960s, the contributions of Patrick Suppes and his colleagues formed the basis of a learning model called drill and practice or tutorials. This model was based on the approach of Mastery Learning and formed the basis of the behaviorism application in educational technology. Applications of computer-assisted instruction conducted by Suppes in the 1960s can be seen today in the form of sophisticated multimedia courseware on CD or web sites.