Explore over 100+ easy-to-read summaries of learning theories, educational guides and useful tools below. This website is completely free! It has been maintained by teachers and volunteers since 2005. Please support us by sharing our site on social media or by purchasing our eBook.
Paradigms
Constructivist, Social and Situational Theories
- Constructivism Overview
- Anchored Instruction (Bransford)
- Cognitive Apprenticeship (Collins et al.)
- Cognitive Dissonance (Festinger)
- Communities of Practice (Lave and Wenger)
- Connectivism (Siemens, Downes)
- Discovery Learning (Bruner)
- Ecological Theory of Development (Bronfenbrenner)
- Multiliteracies (New London Group)
- Semiotics (deSaussure, Barthes, Bakhtin)
- Social Development Theory (Vygotsky)
- Problem-Based Learning (PBL)
- Situated Learning (Lave)
Descriptive & Meta Theories
Child Development Theories
Mental Models
Behaviorist Theories
Motivation & Humanist Theories
- Humanism Overview
- ARCS Model of Motivational Design (Keller)
- Emotional Intelligence (Goleman)
- Experiential Learning (Kolb)
- Flow (Csikszentmihalyi)
- Grit (Duckworth, Matthews, Kelly, Peterson)
- Intrinsically Motivating Instruction (Malone)
- Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs (Maslow)
- Positive Psychology / PERMA Theory (Seligman)
- Self-Determination Theory (Deci and Ryan)
Identity Theories
Miscellaneous Learning Theories & Models
Guides, Reviews and Learning Tools
- Cospaces: Creating Virtual Reality for the Classroom
- Card Game Toolkit: Create Educational Card Games
- ExploreLearning: Interactive Gizmos and Simulations
- Flipgrid: Video Discussion Tool
- Maker Spaces for Education
- Mind Maps (Concept Maps) in the Classroom
- Tools to Teach Coding and Computer Science
- Robot Turtles Review: Coding Game for Kids
- Icebreakers Guide: Activities for the Classroom
- Ed Tech Guides
Cognitivist Theories
- Cognitivism Overview
- Attribution Theory (Weiner)
- Cognitive Load Theory (Sweller)
- Cognitive Theory of Multimedia Learning (Mayer)
- Elaboration Theory (Reigeluth)
- Expertise Theory (Ericsson, Gladwell)
- Functional Context Theory (Sticht)
- Gestalt Theory (von Ehrenfels)
- Information Processing Theory
- Metacognition (Flavell)
- Situated Cognition (Brown, Collins & Duguid)
- Stage Theory of Cognitive Development (Piaget)
- Theory of Mind, Empathy, Mindblindness (Premack, Woodruff, Perner, Wimmer)
