Assignment Cover Page
Surname and Name:
Student number:
Module name: Strategies to Support Learners with Diverse Needs
Module code: INC4804
Assignment: 2
Unique number: 241360
Number of Pages: 17
Due date: 22 June 2026
1|Page
, DECLARATION OF HONESTY FOR WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS
I
Student number Module code: INC4804
declare that
1. I understand what plagiarism entails and am aware of the university’s policy in this
regard.
2. this assignment is my own, original work. Where I used someone else’s work –
whether a printed source, the internet or any other source – I gave the proper
3.
4. acknowledgement and included a complete reference list.
I did not use another current or previous student’s work, to submit it as my own.
I did not and will not allow anyone to copy my work with the intention of
4. submitting it as his or her own.
Signature Date:
2|Page
, Read the article entitled: Approaches to learning from traditional theories (Sahin & Tebeau, 2024) and
respond to the questions below:
1. Define the fundamental difference between the Objectivist Approach and the Subjectivist Approach.
Provide practical examples from your personal experience. [5]
Objectivist Approach
Objectivism asserts that one reality exists regardless of who perceives it. Mankind can know this reality
only through reason, and objective knowledge and truth are possible (Peikoff 1993). An objectivist
teacher must have great control over what and how students should learn. The choice of important
topics to be learned, the order and content of lectures, the planning and implementation of learning
activities, and the evaluation of learning and students are determined under the supervision of an
objective teacher. The learning process is completely guided by the teacher and the strategies and
methods are well defined and chosen according to the learning goals or objectives.
Example:
Subjectivist Approach
In this approach knowledge is not seen as an absolute, external truth but as something constructed by
the learner through the lens of their unique background, emotions, and personal reality. Great emphasis
is placed on affect-structured learning. This means acknowledging the role of curiosity, emotions,
motivations, and personal values in how knowledge is retained. Learners take an active role, guiding
their own educational journeys and finding confidence in their own conclusions rather than merely
reproducing rote information.
Example:
2. Define the fundamental difference between Behaviorism and Student-centered education by John
Dewey. Provide practical examples from your personal experience. [10]
Behaviorism
Behaviorism is based on the classical conditioning theory written by Ivan Pavlov (1849-1936) where
learning occurs through association and all behaviors are learned through conditioning through
interaction with the environment. Therefore, behavior is only a reaction to environmental stimuli.
However, behaviorism as a term is recognized by John B. Watson (1878-1958) who emphasized
observability to avoid lack of reliability. He analyzed habit and defined it as a coordinated and consistent
action that is formed through repetition in a given situation. Today, we call Watson's perspective
classical S-R (stimulus-response) behaviorism. In other words, he defined learning as the process of
3|Page
Surname and Name:
Student number:
Module name: Strategies to Support Learners with Diverse Needs
Module code: INC4804
Assignment: 2
Unique number: 241360
Number of Pages: 17
Due date: 22 June 2026
1|Page
, DECLARATION OF HONESTY FOR WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS
I
Student number Module code: INC4804
declare that
1. I understand what plagiarism entails and am aware of the university’s policy in this
regard.
2. this assignment is my own, original work. Where I used someone else’s work –
whether a printed source, the internet or any other source – I gave the proper
3.
4. acknowledgement and included a complete reference list.
I did not use another current or previous student’s work, to submit it as my own.
I did not and will not allow anyone to copy my work with the intention of
4. submitting it as his or her own.
Signature Date:
2|Page
, Read the article entitled: Approaches to learning from traditional theories (Sahin & Tebeau, 2024) and
respond to the questions below:
1. Define the fundamental difference between the Objectivist Approach and the Subjectivist Approach.
Provide practical examples from your personal experience. [5]
Objectivist Approach
Objectivism asserts that one reality exists regardless of who perceives it. Mankind can know this reality
only through reason, and objective knowledge and truth are possible (Peikoff 1993). An objectivist
teacher must have great control over what and how students should learn. The choice of important
topics to be learned, the order and content of lectures, the planning and implementation of learning
activities, and the evaluation of learning and students are determined under the supervision of an
objective teacher. The learning process is completely guided by the teacher and the strategies and
methods are well defined and chosen according to the learning goals or objectives.
Example:
Subjectivist Approach
In this approach knowledge is not seen as an absolute, external truth but as something constructed by
the learner through the lens of their unique background, emotions, and personal reality. Great emphasis
is placed on affect-structured learning. This means acknowledging the role of curiosity, emotions,
motivations, and personal values in how knowledge is retained. Learners take an active role, guiding
their own educational journeys and finding confidence in their own conclusions rather than merely
reproducing rote information.
Example:
2. Define the fundamental difference between Behaviorism and Student-centered education by John
Dewey. Provide practical examples from your personal experience. [10]
Behaviorism
Behaviorism is based on the classical conditioning theory written by Ivan Pavlov (1849-1936) where
learning occurs through association and all behaviors are learned through conditioning through
interaction with the environment. Therefore, behavior is only a reaction to environmental stimuli.
However, behaviorism as a term is recognized by John B. Watson (1878-1958) who emphasized
observability to avoid lack of reliability. He analyzed habit and defined it as a coordinated and consistent
action that is formed through repetition in a given situation. Today, we call Watson's perspective
classical S-R (stimulus-response) behaviorism. In other words, he defined learning as the process of
3|Page
