The Rodent Response Metaphors School is based on the principles of behavioural psychology. This is characterized by overt learner interaction with instructional materials. Learning is enhanced by shaping learner responses to instructional stimuli and thereby developing an association between the two. The interactive learning designers have concentrated on contingencies of reinforcement, immediate feedback and the like.
The Phantamal Metaphors School is based on cognitive psychology. This school of thought emphasizes that the learner is a mediator in the learning: process. The learning is viewed as proactive, by helping to share learning, rather than being shaped by it. Software designers who emphasise this orientation are concerned with problems such as learner motivation for learning, information processing, and transfer of learning.
Both the approaches are not mutually exclusive. For effective learning both can be applied in designing software. Learning takes place through the processes of discussion, interaction, facilitation of learner’s reflecting or thinking, assessment of the intended goal and recommendation of appropriate tasks to achieve the objectives. The design to be followed, allows the learner to negotiate learning tasks to acquire an in depth understanding of the content. To make interactive software successful we should use possible communication technologies for interaction.