Theory Overview Project

1. Theory Overview Project Education 405 A David Flores, Reyna Camacho & Anthony J. Zarate

2. Theory Overview Project Objective • Our PowerPoint project is an ongoing collaborative effort to represent the Educational Research and Theories we as novices have studied within our UCLA TEP experience.

3. Psychological Theories, Ideas, and Practices/Methodologies Psychological Education is the study of human learning. This involves studying instructional processes within the classroom setting. The study of learning processes, both cognitive and affective, allows researchers to the understand individual differences in behavior, personality, intellect, and self- concept. The field heavily relies on testing, measurement, assessment, evaluation, and training to enhance educational activities and learning processes. Three major components of our studies have focused on: I. Cognitive Theory II. Behaviorism III. Socio-Cultural

4. I. Cognitive Theory *Cognitive Theory/Cognition is the process involved in gaining skills or knowledge, and includes thinking, knowing, remembering and problem solving. *It identifies how individuals acquire new knowledge *It aims to connect and bridge new and prior knowledge together *Jean Piaget, an influential Swiss developmental psychologist, is the Father of Cognitive Theory. His theory looks to assimilate the knowledge of the learner, as well as how to accommodate the information (into their schemata). *Cognition and cognitive theorists emphasize children as “active learners who are able to set goals, plan, and revise… [and] are seen as learners who assemble and organize material” * “Cognitive development involves the gradual acquisition of strategies for remembering, understanding and solving problems.” *Cognitive approaches to learning creates free-thinking leaners! Bransford, J. et al. (2000). How people learn; Brain, mind, experience and school. Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press. Huitt, W., & Hummel, J. (2003). Piaget's theory of cognitive development. Educational Psychology Interactive. Valdosta, GA: Valdosta State University.

5. II. Behaviorism *Behaviorist theories are based on the beliefs that students are empty vessels, or in a tabula rasa state, and have no knowledgewhatsoever. *Behaviorism thus stresses a notion of the teacher filling their minds with knowledge and information, known as the banking model. *B.F. Skinner, psychologist and behaviorist, innovated his own science of radical behaviorism *His theory of “Operant Conditioning” has been widely critiqued, as it involves positive (+) and negative (-) reinforcement/punishment as forms of learning. Punishment: a consequence that reduces a behavior. Reinforcement: a consequence that increases a behavior. Positive: adding a stimulus or consequence. Negative: removing a stimulus or consequence. *Behaviorism challenges the notions of cognitionbecause training a learner’s behavior does not provide the cognitive skills necessary to become a free-thinker! Schwartz, B & Robbins, S.J. (1995). Psychology of Learning and Behaviour. London: Norton Skinner, B.F.. (1968). The technology of teaching. East Norwalk, CT, US: Appleton-Century-Crofts.

6. Behaviorism continued… Negative and Positive Reinforcement Negative and Positive Punishment “The Four Quadrants.” Themidnightbarker.com

7. III. Socio-Cultural