Learning Theories and Instruction Design

Some dominant theories about knowledge acquisition, learning, and instruction design are presented as a background for economists to begin their investigation into learning processes. Although many innovative pedagogical practices in economics are inspired by various learning theories, the theories and their assumptions are rarely, if ever, discussed in the economics education literature. Innovative educators often claim that there is a vast body of evidence supporting their favorite teaching method, but the quality of the evidence is rarely examined independently. The overview of theories presented here is intended to serve as a starting point for economists willing to produce research on learning processes rather than being satisfied with consuming the results of such research from other disciplines.