Overview of theories

Interaction is a critical component of any learning environment - whether it is a school classroom, a corporate training room, or an educational website. While students may respond differently to particular learning environments, research shows that effective learning involves the active participation of the student. Therefore, when designing learning experiences, using a variety of methods so as to involve each student in the learning process is crucial. Theories of cognitive learning which support this premise include Social Cognitive Theory (SCT), Constructivism, and Cooperative (often called "Active") Learning.

	Social Cognitive Theory Describes the cognitive psychology of behavior development. Explains the roles of confidence, motivation, repetition, and emotional support in relation to behavior development. Provides the framework for learning theories that focus on interactivity in education. Read more >>
	Constructivism Describes learning as a process whereby the learner actively constructs new ideas and/or interprets concepts based upon current and past knowledge. Practices the concept of scaffolding to help students use what they already know to inform what they need to know. Read more >>
	Cooperative Learning Explains that the best learning occurs when students are: Actively engaged in the learning process, and Working in collaboration with other students to accomplish a shared goal. Moves teaching practice from teacher-centered to student-centered education. Read more >>

Achieving interactivity in web-based educational material can be counterintuitive because so much of the content is passive text. However, because a web page is essentially a blank slate, the potential exists to develop dynamic multimedia experiences that are entirely interactive.

By considering the implications of current learning theory when designing online materials, and by consciously building interactivity into the learning experience, educators can enhance meaningful learning and increase retention. Indeed, interactivity can engage students beyond the confines of more traditional, teacher-based methods and challenge them to pursue knowledge in order to reach their potential.