Who proposed the concept of connectionism in education?

The concept of connectionism in education was proposed by Edward L. Thorndike. His work in the early 20th century focused on how learning occurs and the connections that students make between stimuli and responses. Thorndike's connectionism emphasizes the idea that learning is the result of forming associations between these stimuli and responses, which can significantly influence educational practices.

Thorndike formulated several principles related to the connection between knowledge and behavior, such as the Law of Effect, which states that responses followed by satisfying consequences are likely to recur, whereas those followed by unpleasant consequences are less likely to be repeated. This framework laid the groundwork for later behavioral theories in education, highlighting the importance of reinforcement in the learning process. Overall, Thorndike's connectionism significantly shaped our understanding of learning and teaching methodologies.