Learning theories are abundant. With each new idea, new ism, new following, I hope that learners are positively affected. Each of my three children learned to read differently. One with phonics, one with whole language, and the other with a combination of the two methods. They all read. They all had their unique challenges. The pure phonics reader could read upper level texts without understanding their meaning, his ability to pronounce and decipher words in first grade trumped the skills of his older sisters. The whole language learner seemed to struggle with everything; skipping unfamiliar words hoping their meaning would be revealed in familiar words and pictures, and finding the whole process frustrating. The combination reader stumbled early on, but once she caught on she fell in love with reading. Does this say as much about the theory behind the lessons as it does my children? How are we to know?
Educational technology has opened education to a new generation, but doesn't it also cutoff others? Without access, you're left behind. The faster it moves forward, the more behind developing nations become. They invest all of their resources into education, while the US takes them for granted.
I've digressed...isms. Cognitivism, behaviorism, constructivism... which is best? I agree with Karl Kapp, a combination offers the best of all worlds. To assume that the latest technology, discovery, idea trumps those that came before them seems arrogant and ignorant. Many want to throw behaviorism out now that we understand the intricate details of cognitivism, but cognitivism doesn't negate behaviorism. Rather it opens a new understanding, an additional tool.
Malcolm Knowles offered andragogy as an alternative to pedagogy. Understanding the uniqueness of adult learners is crucial for continuing education, but I think with a good understanding of learning styles, behavioral processes, and experience, the atmosphere for learning would be lacking.
Stanley Frielick adds enactivism to the isms and shares his insight to the ism discussion, I recommend you take a look: http://www.flexilearn.com/?p=52
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