One of the most popular instructional design theories is connectionism. Connectionism theory states that the brain is composed of many small, interconnected networks. This theory holds that the way the brain learns is by making connections between different parts of the brain.

One of the most famous applications of connectionism is the learning theories of John Dewey. Dewey believed that the way students learn best is by engaging in natural, problem-solving experiences. He developed the idea of experiential learning, which is the theory that students learn best by doing.

Other popular instructional design theories include cognitive learning theory and information-processing theory. Cognitive learning theory states that the way students learn is by forming mental representations of information. The information-processing theory holds that the way students learn is by processing information.