The learning theories implicit in the way the units are presented and developed
Learning theories place the emphasis on nurturing the individual and the ability of teachers to facilitate the learning that people do. Educational and learning theories have been in existence since at least the 16th Century when John Comenius (1592 – 1670) (sometimes known as Komensky) developed his ideas about education being not just for children but lifelong. He was also one of the first educators to encourage the education of women, (Pound, 2005).
Theories serve as bridges between research and educational practices and as tools to organize and translate research findings into recommendations for educational practice.
Behaviorism
Behavioral theories stress the role of the environment-specifically , how stimuli are arranged and presented and how responses are reinforced .these theories assign less importance to learner differences than do cognitive theories .Within the overall theory of behaviourism are a number of sub-groups two of which are Connectivism and Conditioning .
Edward Thorndike (1874 – 1949) was one of the main advocates of ‘Connectivism’. Through his research he came to the view that how humans and animals behave is all about stimulus and response.Thorndike believed that learning occurred through trial and error. This led him to the view that there are two laws that relate to learning. These are the laws of Exercise and Effect, (Schunk, 2004).
Skinner termed his view of behaviourism ‘Operant Conditioning’. His view was that an animal or human being, operated upon through conditioning would also emit responses, (Tip Theories, 11.10.2007).
As with Thorndike, he took the view that the stimuli could be negative, pain or criticism for example, or positive, as in praise or reward, (B.F. Skinner Foundation 2007). This is the basic difference between the view that Skinner held and that of other behaviourists, such as Thorndike.
Kohn’s argument though is that we are not animals that merely react to stimuli. We have choice and it is this choice that makes us different to the animals.
Cognitive learning
Cognitive psychologists believe that through the use of modelling and artificial intelligence it is possible to both predict and explain human behaviour. In contrast to the behaviourist the cognitivist believes that learning cannot be identified just from a change in behaviour. Learning occurs whether or not there is a change in behaviour.
The behaviourist would argue that any learning creates a change in behaviour whilst the cognitivist would argue that the learning still occurs even if it does not create a change in behaviour at that point.
Cognitive learning provides the framework for learners to arrive at concepts for themselves through their won insights based on what they know and understand at the time, rather than handing those concepts to them.

Jean Piaget (1896 – 1980) from his observations of children argued that there are four different stages of cognitive development and that they relate to a period in each person’s life.
As the child grows it enters the concrete operational stage and becomes logical and egocentricity reduces so they are able to reverse their mental actions. Finally the formal operational stage begins. They are able to link abstract concepts together. Piaget argued that for the vast majority of the population this is a step too far and that most people fail to reach this point.
Humanistc learning
It is as both Rogers and Maslow stated about the need for the individual to ‘self-actualise’, (Jarvis, 2006).
Maslow identified 5 key points that an individual needs to achieve to be able to be a self-actualising organism, (Schunk, 2004).]
As can be seen this theory is about the whole person and not just the learning at that time. Rogers believed that it was about developing and maintaining that whole person and not just a part of it, (Jarvis, 2006). The humanist theory is a holistic theory of education, using the experiences of that individual to enable them to learn. It involves using the affective as well as the cognitive processes. In other words as well as understanding they are feeling, (Educational Psychology Interactive). It is about using the emotions as well as mental and physical aspects of learning.