Learning Theories and Pedagogies and connection to eLearning
1. Review: the timeline I’m using.
That interactive learning theories timeline is a handy launchpad for planning blended and online lessons. It rounds up big hitters from behaviourism to constructivism and connectivism, with classroom-friendly blurbs and links you can open while planning. Bookmark it for quick refreshers on things like zpd, scaffolding, dual coding, working memory, and the forgetting curve.
I'm also leaning on the research methods handbook when I'm choosing the right approach for online inquiry or action research in my class or staff PD. open, practical, and written for education folks. Link
2. Examples that fit my learners
I teach across primary to senior and coach adults, so here’s my mix with links I actually use:
Primary: Play-based inquiry in literacy centers that spill into home corners online or in class. Ontario Kindergarten Program on play-based culture of inquiry: LINK 1 & LINK 2
Multisensory phonics for strugglers in small groups on camera or at a horseshoe table. overview with examples.
Junior: Design thinking sprints with jamboard or chart paper, ending in a testable prototype. starter explainers & classroom examples: LINK 1 and LINK 2 inquiry social studies tasks that use the C3-style inquiry arc flow question, investigate, evidence, communicate. Ontario Capacity Building Series on inquiry
Intermediate: Problem-based math anchored in real contexts, done in groups with rotating roles online breakout style or at tables. how-to from Ontario
Makerspace challenges with low-tech options at home and higher-tech in school. curriculum guide and challenge bank: LINK
Senior: jigsaw and seminar-style cooperative learning for civics or literature, with peer-led breakouts & facilitation tips: LINK
Action-oriented tasks that culminate in authentic products emails to community partners, mini policy briefs, or public media posts. Overview
Adult learners I coach/tutor: Short design thinking cycles for course improvement, and inquiry cycles with evidence sharing in a collaborative blog. inquiry guide for teachers
3. Examples:
Grade 7 geography water stewardship project with a public artifact infographic, PSA, or ArcGIS StoryMap. align to inquiry arc then publish on class site. C3-style framing tips
Problem-Based Learning
Grade 8 proportional reasoning pop-up food truck budget. students solve supply, pricing, and break-even problems in small rotating-role groups. implementation guide
Inquiry Learning
Junior social studies community change inquiry: students generate compelling questions, gather local evidence, then present action proposals to admin or council. Ontario Capacity Building Series
Play-Based Learning
Primary math ICU corner with manipulatives and role-play triage clipboards for word problems. playful framing ideas and distance-learning angle: LINK 1 and LINK 2
Design Thinking
Grade 5 hurricane relief makers project empathize with families, define needs, ideate low-cost kits, prototype, test with peer feedback. practical classroom story: LINK
Experiential Learning
Action-oriented field tasks like planning an accessible school event or running a micro-survey for a community partner, then reflecting on evidence of impact. anchor with the action-oriented approach reading above.
Makerspace Learning
Choice board of home-friendly builds cardboard automata, recycled-materials wearables, or scratch interactive stories. challenge bank and scratch studio: LINK
4. What the Ontario Ministry is advocating right now with links
Inquiry-Based learning as a core stance across grades Capacity Building Series PDF used above
Play-based and inquiry culture in Kindergarten extended to primary through centers and provocations: LINK
Problem-Based approaches in math with real-world contexts: LINK
Makerspace and Creative Technology to support innovation and literacy Dr. Janette Hughes overview and resources: LINK and summary pieces cited in the makerspace guide above.
5. The pedagogy I use in my e-learning classroom
I run a constructivist and sociocultural core with healthy doses of cognitive science. in practice that looks like:
Community first social presence, norms, and routines for feedback, tied to vygotsky and zpd scaffolding.
Mini-lessons that respect working memory limits, followed by creation and discussion to cement schema.
Dual coding slides and short videos, then student-made visuals.
Mastery pathways with low-stakes retrieval and spaced practice to fight the forgetting curve.
Theories handy for this mix on the timeline include scaffolding, working memory model, dual coding, zpd, and the forgetting curve.
6. Why this still matters and what shifted in the last decade
Learners juggle bandwidth, devices, languages, and life. inquiry and problem-based tasks give purpose while UDL choices reduce barriers.
The science side got louder online we design around working memory limits and build in retrieval practice so knowledge sticks. the timeline’s entries on working memory, dual coding, levels of processing, and that pesky forgetting curve are clutch when planning short, clear learning bursts.
The technique I vibe with most design thinking merged with inquiry. it gives students a compassionate why, a creative how, and a public who to serve. it also plays nicely with e-learning tools like jamboard, figjam, or just paper and tape.
7. Link dump for the collaborative blog
Learning theories timeline hub LINK
Research methods handbook for education folks LINK
Ontario inquiry series: LINK
Play-Based Learning Brief: LINK
and K program page LINK
Problem-Based Math Guide: LINK
Wrap-Up
My recipe is simple mix theory from the timeline, pick one or two methods that fit the learners in front of me, and build tasks that produce something real for someone real. Sprinkle in feedback, retrieval, and a little fun. That’s supper!!
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