CLASS LECTURES
CHAPTER 1
THEORISTS DISAGREE ABOUT:
* What learning is? (How would you define learning) Change
in behavior (visible)
* How it occurs? (In your opinion, how does it occur) Experiences
we encounter
* What factors are necessary for
it to take place? Experience
satisfying, and rewarding
IMPORTANCE OF LEARNING
In order to survive Human must learn to Adapt to their
environment, or if they cant adapt to the environment they must Migrate from it, or Die in the environment. (Winter)
Learning allows an individual a greater degree of flexibility
and adaptability than is true for any other species on earth.
INSTINCT VS LEARNING
WHICH IS BEST, OR WHICH WOULD YOU
RATHER HAVE?
Many species seem to have it easy compared to Humans because they are born
with instinct to accomplish certain task. Birds are born knowing how to
fly, build homes/nests, care for their young, when to fly South and how to get there. This is all by instinct.
Unlike birds, humans have to Learn how to frame or build homes, how to care
for their young, how to get from one place to another. We are not born with these
skills.
Because so little of our behavior is instinct and so much is learned, we are
able to benefit from our experiences. We pass on our experiences to our children
and each generation is more capable of behaving more intelligently. (It is humans who are getting
ahead)
DEFINING LEARNING
Theorists have come up with two definitions to define learning. There is a Behaviorists definition and a Cognitive definition. Lets
look at each separately.
Behaviorists define Learning as a relatively permanent change in behavior due
to experience. (In this definition the learning is Visible). Examples:
Learning
to tie your shoe: Not eating spicy Foods:
buckling seatbelts: not touching a hot stove
Cognitive Psychologists define Learning as a relatively permanent change in
mental associations due to experience (In this definition the learning is Unseen). Examples:
Finding or understanding a relationship
between addition and Subtraction. Using memory gimmicks to remember Spanish. (Boy ah La Casa)
NATURE OF PRINCIPLES AND THEORIES
Thousands of experiments have investigated how people and animals learn. These experiments have led psychologists to generalize about the learning process
through the formation of both Principles and Theories of learning.
Principles of learning identify specific factors that consistently influence
learning and describe the particular effects of these factors. Example
A behavior that is followed by a satisfying
state of affairs (a reward) is more likely to be learned than a behavior not followed by such a reward. Example
A pigeon is given a small pellet of food every time it turns its body in a complete
Circle. Consequently, it
begins turning more and more frequently.
Dolphins given fish for
speaking quickly become quite chatty.
A high school girl who
receives compliments on her new hairstyle continues to style
her hair in the same way.
When principles such as these are observed over and over again and. and when
it stands the test of time..it is sometimes called a Law.
Theories of learning provide explanations about the underlying mechanisms involved
in the learning process. Consequently it can be said:
Principles tell us What factors are important for learning.
Theories tell us Why those factors
are important. Example:
People learn what they pay attention to. Reward increases learning when
it makes
People pay attention to the information to be learned.
In the example above, What caused the learning?
THE REWARD (Principle)
Why did the learning occur? PAYING
ATTENTION (Theory)
Now lets look at some Advantages and Disadvantages of Theories
ADVANTAGES OF THEORIES
Theories have several advantages over principles:
- Theories are often very concise
( Psychologists use the term parsimonious)
- Theories provide starting
points for conducting new research. For example, the theory that attention is
more important than reward leads to the following prediction or hypothesis:
When instruction draws an individuals attention to the information to be learned,
Learning occurs in the absence of a reward.
- Theories help us to make sense
of research findings
DISADVANTAGES OF THEORIES
- No single theory explain everything
that researchers have discovered about learning
- Theories affect what new information
is published therefore biasing the knowledge that we have about learning. Researchers
are reluctant to publish findings that are totally opposite of theories they have purposed.
A PERSPECTIVE ON THEORIES AND PRINCIPLES
One should think of learning theories as changing models of the learning process. Each theory is based on several decades of research results and each has some validity. However, as research continues, theories of learning will undoubtedly change or be
revised to account for new information or evidence that emerges. In this sense,
no single theory can be considered FACT.
Principles generally maintain their validity longer than theories do.
Both principles and theories provide a means to predict the conditions under
which learning is likely to occur. To the extent that principles and theories
are usefulimperfect and temporary as they may bewe are better off with them than we would be without them.
SUMMARY
Learning is the means through which we acquire not only skills and knowledge,
but we also develop Values, attitudes, and emotional reaction through learning.
Learning allows human beings a greater degree of flexibility and adaptability
than is true of any other species. Currently, two major theoretical perspectives
help us to understand how people learn.
THE BEHAVIORIST PERSPECTIVE
- Defines learning as a relative
permanent change in behavior
- Emphasizes the relationship
among stimuli and response
- Learning is visible
THE COGNITIVE PERSPECTIVE
- Defines Learning as a relative
permanent change in mental association due to experiences
- Emphasizes the role of internal
mental processes involved in learning
- Learning is Unseen
EDUCATIONAL
IMPLICATIONS
Each
of these perspectives can help educators optimize learning environments and facilitate student achievement.
1. Students
respond to stimuli or Teachers expectations (rewards)
2. In many
cases. Teacher can observe learning taking place
3. Mental
Association, making a topic interesting so student will want to learn and will pay attention