Learning Theories

1. Learning Theories By Maria Victoria Jauregui EDTC 3320

2. Introduction • What is learning theory? • There are two types of learning theories and their respective theorists. • Behaviorism B.F. Skinner • Cognitivism Jean Piaget • Learning theories impact on teaching and learning • Evaluate each theory on adult education.

3. Continuation… • What is learning theory? It is an understood thinking of how people and animals learn. • There are three main categories of learning theories: • Behavior • Cognitive • Constructive • The first two categories along with their respective theorists will be explain.

4. B. F. SkinnerBehavioral Learning Theorist • Skinner is distinguished for describing the values of operant conditioning. • According to Skinner, the environment determines behavior. • As determined by his view, people have consistent behaviors patterns because they have particular kinds of response patterns.

5. Skinner Box • In one of Skinner’s experiments, a hungry rat was placed in a box. When the rat accidentally pressed the lever a pellet of food was dropped in the tray. The rat learned that pressing the lever would give her food. The lever pressing behavior was reinforced by food in this experiment. • By this experiment, Skinner shows the ideas of “operant conditioning” and “shaping behavior.” • Skinner applied his findings about animals to human behavior.

6. Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive Development Piaget’s Key ideas: • Assimilation: The process by which a person takes material into their mind from the environment, which may mean changing the evidence of their senses to make it fit. (Atherton 2009) • Accommodation: The difference made to one’s mind or concepts by the process of assimilation. (Atherton 2009) • Note that assimilation and accommodation go together; you can’t have one without the other. (Atherton 2009)

7. Piaget’s Developmental Theory Piaget’s Theory There are four developmental stages. The process by which children progress through them. SENSORIMOTOR STAGE PREOPERATIONAL STAGE 0-2 The child begins to interact 2-7 The child begins to represent with the environment. the world symbolically. CONCRETE OPERATIONAL STAGE FORMAL OPERATIONAL STAGE 7-11 The child learns rules 11 years and up The adolescent such as conservation can transcend the concrete situation and think about the future.

8. Behavioral Learning TheoriesImpact on teaching/training Reinforces may also be used to teach new skills. This process is also referred as shaping. A teacher or instructor can also use punishment and consequences to bring about a behavior change and facilitate learning (Davidson 2006)

9. Behavioral Learning Theories Behaviorists believe that what one learns is influenced by the environment instead of the student (Davidson 2006). The theory of behavioral learning also contends that contiguity and reinforcement, whether positive or negative, are essential to the learning process (Davidson 2006). • The teacher’s function, according to the behavioral learning theory, is to make use of negative reinforces to end unwanted behavior and positive reinforces to strengthen wanted behavior (Davidson 2006).

10. Cognitive Learning Theory According to the cognitive learning theory, individuals are actively engaged in the learning process. The learning process consists of linking information that was formerly learned with the new information being learned.

11. Cognitive Learning TheoryImpact on Teaching /Training • According to the cognitive theory, the responsibilities of a teacher are: * The lessons are presented organized. * Understand a student’s way of learning and stage of development. Use it to ensure that lessons are developmentally appropriate.

12. Humanistic Approach Theory The humanistic theory of learning involves the concept of learning through watching the behavior of others and what results from that behavior. However, learning does not have to involve a behavior change. Learning comes about as a result of observation (Davidson 2006). • The teacher’s role, according to the humanistic theory, is to be a role model (Davidson 2006). • Model appropriate behavior and make an effort not to replicate inappropriate behavior. • Provide a reason and motivation for each task, teach general learning skills, foster group work, and if possible, give a choice of tasks to the students.

13. Evaluate Behaviorism in adult Education Theory has six components for behavior modification. It was a one-dimensional approach to behavior, it overlooked mind activity. Behaviorism was replaced by cognitivism, which focused on mental activities.

14. Evaluate Cognitivism in Adult Education Gregorc Style Delineator - Perception/Ordering based methods. Four concepts based on the quality of either concrete or abstract with both having sequential and random methods. These methods have been proven to provide learning.

15. Conclusion Behaviorists believe that learning is influence by the environment. The theory of behavioral learning sustains that behavior is shaped by positive reinforcement or negative reinforcement. Both positive reinforcement or negative reinforcement play an essential role in learning. Cognitivists believe that learners are active participants in the learning process. Individuals actively choose to practice, pay attention, ignore and make many decisions in order to achieve their goals.

16. References Learning Theories Knowledgebase (2009, October). Behaviorism at Learning-Theories.com. Retrieved October 10, 2009 from http://www.learning-theories.com/behaviorism.html On Purpose Associates (1998-2008) Funderstanding: Piaget: Retrieved October10, 2009 from http://www.funderstanding.com/content/piaget Atherton JA (2005) Learning and Teaching: Piaget’s developmental theory [On-line] UK: Retrieved October 10, 2009 from http://www.learningandteaching.info/learning/piaget.htm Davison Brandi (2006) Associated Content: Behavioral, Cognitive, and Humanistic Theories of Learning: Retrieved October 11, 2009 from htto://www.associatedcontent.com/article/94979/behavioral cognitive and humanistic.html Sparknotes (2009). Psychology: Personality. Retrieved October 10, 2009 from http://www.sparknotes.com/101/psychology/personality/behaviorist theories.html Dr. Robert Ouellette (September 14, 2009) Learning Styles in Adult Education Retrieved October 11, 2009 from http://polaris.umuc.edu/~rouellet/learnstyle/learnstyle.htm Wikipedia contributors(n.d.) Behaviorist Orientation Retrieved October 11, 2009 from http://adulteducation.wikibook.us/index.php?title=Behaviorist Orientation