Paradigm Examples

Behaviorism:

Behavorism can be defined as "an approach to psychology based on the proposition that behavior can be studied and explained scientifically without recourse to internal mental states." - Wikipedia.com

Simply stated, the behaviorism theory believes that learning occurs when associations are made between stimulus and response. By starting with simple concepts, one can build upon pre-existing knowledge and gain a mastery over the information presented.

Flood: http://pbskids.org/lions/wolf/flood2.html

This simple (and slightly long to load) game from the PBS.org website teaches children how to form associations between various words or themes by having them organized into groups of three books to be placed on a shelf. The game's concept: the library is flooding, and we must get all of our books onto a shelf, organized by a concurrent theme. The learner is presented with 5 books at a time, but only 3 books can fit on shelf. The learner must then chose the books that have a common theme and place them on a shelf. A hint system can help guide learners should they become lost or confused. The game starts out simple (matching numbers), but then the challenges get progressively harder in this 100+ round game! With positive reinforcement from a cute (if slightly annoying) narrating mouse, the game is definitely fun, although perhaps a bit repetitive on the later levels.

Cognitivism:

Cognitivism can be defined as “a theoretical approach to understanding the mind, which argues that mental function can be understood by quantitative, positivist and scientific methods, and that such functions can be described as information processing models.” - Wikipedia.com

Jigsaw Sudoku: http://www.jigsawdoku.com/

While most are familiar with the craze of Sudoku and its rise to fame, the effects on cognitive ability, learning, and retention are now being studied, at least to some degree. Apparently one's lifestyle can have a direct impact on our cognitive abilities and their retention even into old age. - American Society on Aging

This online variant of Sudoku allows you to chose the type of tile to solve (numbers, pictures, letters), various puzzle sizes, and difficulty level. Perhaps Sudoku will begin to be hailed as a mental improvement exercise, instead of a pastime your boss will yell at you for!