How Learning Theories, Digital Transformation, and AI are Changing Education (TWDR-in press)

Instructional design is creating educational experiences that help people learn well through practice. Three main learning theories—behaviourism, cognitivism, and constructivism—guide this field. However, due to technological advancements, these theories are beginning to be integrated into modern learning environments, particularly through the increased availability of digital tools, including Generative AI(Gen-AI).

One such theory – behaviourism-has been in existence for long time now. According to it human behaviours' can be modified using rewards & repetition. For instance, when students are given the right answers and praised, they tend to repeat that behaviour again. Traditionally, education has used this theory through activities like drills and rote memorisation. In today’s digital world, though, this theory uses different responses when they engage with quizzes online, so they come to know what is correct or not. Digital games also follow this- when you achieve certain points at each level,. Education can be traced back to these theories, one of which is online feedback. Immediate feedback provides good reinforcement for effective learning habits because students receive immediate responses when they engage with quizzes online, so they come to know what is correct or not. Digital games also follow this- when you achieve certain points at each level, something is rewarding waiting for you.

Cognitivism is another major learning theory that stresses what happens inside a person's head while he or she learns. According to this theory, knowledge is about understanding, organising and remembering. Therefore, it focuses on the human brain’s information processing system as well as how we structure content into meaningful objects that a learner can easily understand during teaching and learning processes in class. This involves breaking complex ideas into smaller parts, which are less complicated for students to comprehend in. traditional settings. Today, multimedia facilities like animations, videos, or interactive diagrams enhance this methodology by allowing students to better comprehend complex topics. Learning management systems (LMSs) also help personalise education by changing and assessing progress on the go.

Constructivism maintains that learning involves building personal knowledge through active involvement and reflection Constructivism regards learning as an active process where learners build their understanding from experiences. It encourages receiving knowledge, exploring, asking questions and applying what has been learnt in real-world contexts instead of merely receiving instructions about how things are done. Constructivist approaches are often employed together with project-based learning, where students do actual work-related projects within such fields of science subjects., where students do actual work-related projects within such fields as With digital transformation, constructivist approaches become more powerful. Virtual simulations make both complex events accessible, while collaboration tools enable groups within even different continents to establish standard sets around which they negotiate meaning (Hmelo-Silver et al., 2006).

Generative AI is an advanced technology that has the capacity to produce new content by utilising existing data. It could play a crucial role in influencing the application of these learning theories

For instance, AI can adjust learning activities based on the level of difficulty that corresponds to what a learner currently knows from his past experiences, which is consistent with the behaviourist approach by providing the proper amount of challenge only AI also generate tailored paths for learning among individuals offering some additional resources or slowing down if necessary so each student will stay on his track about cognitivism concerns Educators may use AI in creating immersive simulations, matching them with likeminded peers or fellow travellers allowing for deeper understanding still through cooperation and exploration.

Therefore, while using AI and undergoing digital transformation in education, it is crucial that such tools are cautiously handled; they are important for many reasons but not to replace human agency in teaching. For instance, AI may be used to give immediate feedback, while a teacher’s guidance should not be ignored. Therefore, apart from being beneficial,

In brief combining traditional learning theories with modern digital tools as well as AI can change schooling. Instructional designers may use behaviourism, cognitivism and constructivism principles in a different but more engaging way to form personalized learning systems which are more fun. Over time these technologies will serve the varied needs of learners by making education adaptable, interactive and available to everybody.