LEARNING THEORY

WHAT DO YOU KNOW?

WHAT IS LEARNING?

A relatively permanent change in behaviour that results from practice
Atkinson et al 1993

A complex activity in which the learner relates each new perception to the whole of his/her previous experience.

Learning is the way in which we perceive events and organise experiences to arrive at understanding
Gould 2009

SALJO (1979) conceptions of learning

• Learning is acquiring information or 'knowing a lot'
• Learning as memorising
• Learning as acquiring facts, skills and methods that can be retained and used as necessary
• Learning as making sence or abstracting meaning
• Learning as interpretation and understanding reality in a different way

PRODUCT OR PROCESS

PARADIGMS

Behaviourism

• learning is considered to consist of a change in behaviour brought about by some form of action or experience
• Operant and classical conditioning - Skinner's rats and Pavlov's dogs
• motivation is extrinsic
• learner is passive learner
• didactic teaching

cognitivism

• internal mental processess not automatic response
• build on previous experience
• motivation is intrinsic
• active process

constructivism

• builds on cognitivist ideas
• learning involves social interation
• scaffolding

conclusion

• the brain plays a role
• learning environment makes a difference
• learning is based on associations
• learning occurs in cultural and social settings
• people think about their learning and feelings matter

How people learn:

key questions

• What are the main theoretical perspectives that inform our approach to learning?
• How does an understanding of learning theory affect our approach to classroom practice

motivation

• List the extrinsic motivators that influence you in your daily life
• List those that can be used in teachiong
• What dangers exist when relying solely on extrinsic motivation?

Students come to the classroom with preconceptions about how the world works.

Can you identify any likely instances of incomplete understanding, false beliefs and naïve renditions of concepts that students might bring to your curriculum specialism

first between and then within..

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Practical task

andragogy  - Knowles (1984)

Knowles

• the concept of the learner
• the role of the learner's exoperience
• readiness to learn
• orientation to learning
• motivation

Take a look at your lessons, sow, observations.
Which theories are at play in delivery of your specialist areas?

punishment is least effective

• anxiety, fear, anger or resentment
• temporary effect