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    Introduction To Learning Theories

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    Legends Funanza
    This document provides definitions and explanations related to learning theory. It defines learning as a change in behavior through experience or practice that results in the acquisition of knowledge or skills. It notes that learning is something all humans and living things do to promote survival. The document discusses learning as both a process, involving individuals, others, environments and tools over time, and a product, including ideas, concepts, behaviors, skills, attitudes and values. It introduces several learning theories, such as behaviorism, constructivism, sociocultural theory and cognitivism, and notes we have multiple perspectives but no single answer on how people learn. The importance of aligning beliefs about knowledge, learning theories and teaching practices is discussed.

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    Introduction To Learning Theories

    Uploaded by

    Legends Funanza
    8 views21 pages
    This document provides definitions and explanations related to learning theory. It defines learning as a change in behavior through experience or practice that results in the acquisition of knowledge or skills. It notes that learning is something all humans and living things do to promote survival. The document discusses learning as both a process, involving individuals, others, environments and tools over time, and a product, including ideas, concepts, behaviors, skills, attitudes and values. It introduces several learning theories, such as behaviorism, constructivism, sociocultural theory and cognitivism, and notes we have multiple perspectives but no single answer on how people learn. The importance of aligning beliefs about knowledge, learning theories and teaching practices is discussed.

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    Introduction-to-Learning-Theories

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    This document provides definitions and explanations related to learning theory. It defines learning as a change in behavior through experience or practice that results in the acquisition of knowledge or skills. It notes that learning is something all humans and living things do to promote survival. The document discusses learning as both a process, involving individuals, others, environments and tools over time, and a product, including ideas, concepts, behaviors, skills, attitudes and values. It introduces several learning theories, such as behaviorism, constructivism, sociocultural theory and cognitivism, and notes we have multiple perspectives but no single answer on how people learn. The importance of aligning beliefs about knowledge, learning theories and teaching practices is discussed.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as ppt, pdf, or txt
    8 views21 pages

    Introduction To Learning Theories

    Uploaded by

    Legends Funanza
    This document provides definitions and explanations related to learning theory. It defines learning as a change in behavior through experience or practice that results in the acquisition of knowledge or skills. It notes that learning is something all humans and living things do to promote survival. The document discusses learning as both a process, involving individuals, others, environments and tools over time, and a product, including ideas, concepts, behaviors, skills, attitudes and values. It introduces several learning theories, such as behaviorism, constructivism, sociocultural theory and cognitivism, and notes we have multiple perspectives but no single answer on how people learn. The importance of aligning beliefs about knowledge, learning theories and teaching practices is discussed.

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    Download as ppt, pdf, or txt
    of 21

    Definition: Learning is…

     A change in behavior as a result of experience or practice.


     The acquisition of knowledge.
     Knowledge gained through study.
     To gain knowledge of, or skill in, something through study,
    teaching, instruction or experience.
     The process of gaining knowledge.
     A process by which behavior is changed, shaped or
    controlled.
     The individual process of constructing understanding based
    on experience from a wide range of sources.
    Some First Principles

    Learning is something all humans do


     Fetuses learn
     Infants learn
     Children learn
     Adults learn

    Learning is not uniquely human – all living things


    learn
    Learning evolved as an adaptation for promoting
    survival
    What is Learning?

    Learning is a process

    Learning is a product
    Process of Learning

     Learning involves the individual


     Brain
     Body

     Learning involves others


     Dyads
     Groups
     Organizations
     Communities
     Society
     Learning takes place somewhere
     In physical environment
     With things and tools

     Learning occurs over time


    Products of Learning

     Learning is about ideas and concepts

     Learning is about behaviors and skills

     Learning is about attitudes and values


    Definition: Theories are…

    What is a theory?
     A theory provides a general explanation for observations made
    over time.

     A theory explains and predicts behavior.

     A theory can never be established beyond all doubt.

     A theory may be modified.

     Theories seldom have to be thrown out completely if


    thoroughly tested but sometimes a theory may be widely
    accepted for a long time and later disproved.
    So, how do people learn?

    Easy answer: We don’t know for sure.

    Difficult answer: We have multiple theories that


    provide glimpses of an answer from many different
    perspectives. These stem from psychologists,
    philosophers, sociologists, anthropologists,
    evolutionary biologists, linguists, neuroscientists…
    Broad domains of theories

    Behaviorism (Ch. 3)
    Constructivism (Ch. 5)
    Sociocultural (Ch. 6)
    Cognitivism (Ch. 7)

    I believe that (the) educational process has two sides—one


    psychological and one sociological. . . Profound
    differences in theory are never gratuitous or invented.
    They grow out of conflicting elements in a genuine
    problem.
    -John Dewey, In Dworkin, M. (1959) Dewey on Education
    How did we get to this point?

    A bit of history…

    Where can truth and knowledge be found?


    Plato (428-347ish B.C.E.)

    Truth is found within ourselves (rationalist)


    Ideas do not belong to the actual world: They
    are too perfect (e.g., one’s conception of
    triangles or circles). They belong to the REAL
    world, in which ideas are eternal and flawless.
    Knowledge innate—in place at birth
    Knowledge “drawn out” when teacher asks
    questions; help students recall fundamental
    insights they possess (self reflection)
    Learning passive process
    Plato’s Allegory of the Cave
    Aristotle (470–399 BCE)

    Truth is found outside of ourselves


    using our senses (Empiricist)
    Developed a scientific method of
    gathering data to study the world
    around him.
    “There’s nothing in the intellect that
    wasn’t previously in the senses”
    John Locke (1632-1704)

    Plato is wrong, Aristotle is right.


    “Tabula rasa” or “blank slate” theory
    of learning.

    “Let us then suppose the mind to be … white


    paper, void of all characters, without any ideas.
    How comes it to be furnished? Whence comes it
    by that vast store, which the busy and boundless
    fancy of man has painted on it with an almost
    endless variety? Whence has it all the materials
    of reason and knowledge? To this I answer, in
    one word, from experience. In that all our
    knowledge is founded; and from that it
    ultimately derives itself.”
    John Locke (1632-1704)

    Enter world devoid of content but with biologically


    preformed capacities & processes.
    Immediately experience environment through
    senses.
    “Simple ideas” remembered and built upon by
    “internal” phenomena (concentration, puzzlement,
    etc.).
    Simple ideas not invented; child must have
    experience to develop & all complex ideas trace
    back to combinations of simple ideas.
    Learner still passive; experience happens to
    learner rather than learner engaging in it, even
    perhaps creating it.
    So what?

    Why is an understanding of learning


    theory important for educators?
    Epistemology

    Our beliefs about the nature of knowledge, our


    epistemology, profoundly influence our
    approach to education.
    Psychology of Learning

    Our beliefs about how people learn, our


    psychology of learning, profoundly influence our
    approach to education.
    Epistemology – Theory - Practice

     All three of these need to align


     Our beliefs about knowledge

     Our beliefs about learning

     Our strategies for practice


    Learning theories as glasses

    What would a classroom look


    like as viewed through the
    lens of:
     Plato (rationalist)
     Aristotle (empiricist)
     Locke (tabula rasa)
    Or from these perspectives?
     Behaviorism
     Constructivism
     Sociocultural
     Cognitivism
    What does learning look like?
    Your assignment

    In groups of 3
    Read assigned chapter & other resources as needed
    Prepare 20-minute lesson for Wednesday morning
    Lesson must:
     Be engaging (no 20-minute lectures!)
     Include at least one activity
     Utilize at least one case (either from the book or elsewhere)
     Have a beginning, middle, and end (including wrap-up)
     Be clear and concise.

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