ABSTRACT
This chapter outlines some influential theories of learning. It considers particularly popular approach at present, namely, constructivism. A principal concern of educators is with the conditions that enhance learning rather than with learning theory per se. Nevertheless, theories of learning have been helpful, especially in helping us to understand particular teacher-student interactions in the classroom and lecture hall. Constructivists are concerned with the mental models a learner utilizes when responding to new problems, or new information. Educationists have extrapolated from constructivist learning theories to come up with various principles to inform teaching and learning. The associated metaphor of 'scaffolding' is helpful in trying to understand the teacher's role in the learning process. Similarly, the teacher can be seen as 'a facilitator of a learning process rather than the transmitter of important knowledge that needs to be learnt'.
