What is Learning?

A definition

Learning A definition
Slj (1979) asked a number of adult students what they understood by learning:

Learning as a quantitative increase in knowledge. Learning is acquiring information or knowing a lot. Learning as memorising. Learning is storing information that can be reproduced. Learning as acquiring facts, skills, and methods that can be retained and used as necessary. Learning as making sense or abstracting meaning. Learning involves relating parts of the subject matter to each other and to the real world. Learning as interpreting and understanding reality in a different way. Learning involves comprehending the world by reinterpreting knowledge. (quoted in Ramsden 1992: 26)

Learning A definition

An experience which produces a relatively permanent change in behaviour, or potential behaviour. Learning could be thought of as 'a process by which behaviour changes as a result of experience' (Maples and Webster 1980 quoted in Merriam and Caffarella 1991: 124).

Learning Types

Acquisition learning is seen as going on all the time. It is 'concrete, immediate and confined to a specific activity; it is not concerned with general principles' (Rogers 2003: 18). Whilst the learner may not be conscious of learning, they are usually aware of the specific task in hand.

Learning Types

Formalized learning arises from the process of facilitating learning. It is 'educative learning' rather than the accumulation of experience. There is a consciousness of learning - people are aware that the task they are engaged in entails learning (Rogers 2003: 27).

Behaviourism
A definition

Behaviourism

A theory of human learning that only focuses on objectively observable behaviours . Behaviour theorists define learning as nothing more than the acquisition of new behaviour.

Behaviourism

Borger and Seaborne (1966:16) suggest that learning is any more or less permanent change in behaviour which is the result of experience.

Behaviourism Advocates: John B. Watson (1878-1958)

Influenced by Pavlovs classical conditioning model. Specific stimuli resulted in certain human behavioural responses (stimulusresponse model). Made conclusions about human development by observing overt behaviour.

Behaviourism Advocates: B.F. Skinner (1904-1990)

Known for the operant conditioning model. Things we call pleasant have an energizing or strengthening effect on our behaviour. (Skinner, 1972) Humans and animals repeat pleasurable acts and stop unpleasant ones.

Behaviourism Conditioning

Classic conditioning occurs when a natural reflex responds to a stimulus. The most popular example is Pavlov's observation that dogs salivate when they eat or even see food. Essentially, animals and people are biologically "wired" so that a certain stimulus will produce a specific response.

Behaviourism Conditioning

Behavioural or operant conditioning occurs when a response to a stimulus is reinforced. Basically, operant conditioning is a simple feedback system: If a reward or reinforcement follows the response to a stimulus, then the response becomes more probable in the future. For example, leading behaviourist B.F. Skinner used reinforcement techniques to teach pigeons to dance and bowl a ball in a mini-alley.

Behaviourism
Criticisms of behaviorism: Behaviorism does not account for all kinds of learning, since it disregards the activities of the mind. Behaviorism does not explain some learning--such as the recognition of new language patterns by young children--for which there is no reinforcement mechanism. Research has shown that animals adapt their reinforced patterns to new information. For instance, a rat can shift its behavior to respond to changes in the layout of a maze it had previously mastered through reinforcements.

Behaviourism Impact on Learning

Its positive and negative reinforcement techniques can be very effective--both in animals, and in treatments for human disorders such as autism and antisocial behavior. Behaviorism often is used by teachers, who reward or punish student behaviors.

Constructivism
a theory about knowledge and learning. (Fosnot,1996)

Constructivism - Premises
The Learner

Learners actively construct their own knowledge by anchoring new information to pre-existing knowledge. Learners interact with knowledge, the learning environment, and with other learners.

Constructivism - Premises
Knowledge

Knowledge is "temporary, developmental, nonobjective, internally constructed, and socially and culturally mediated." (Fosnot,1996)

Constructivism - Premises
Learning

Learning is a self-regulatory process of struggling with the conflict between existing personal models of the world and discrepant new insights.

Constructivism - Premises
questioned
valued
Actively constructed

experienced

Knowledge

Discovered

inductive Multiple perspectives

collaborative

Constructivism - Premises
Values Experiences
Interacts
Exercises Initiative

Interprets knowledge

The Learner

In control

Active Constructs knowledge

Takes responsibility

The traditional classroom vs. the constructivist classroom

Traditional Classroom Student primarily work alone. Curriculum is presented part to whole, with emphasis on basic skills. Strict adherence to a fixed curriculum is highly valued. Curricular activities rely heavily on textbooks and workbooks of data and manipulative materials. Students are viewed as "blank slates" onto which information is etched by the teacher. Constructivist Classroom Students primarily work in groups. Curriculum is presented whole to part with emphasis on the big concept.

Pursuit of student questions is highly valued.

Curricular activities rely heavily on primary sources.

Students are viewed as thinkers with emerging theories about the world. (cognitive apprentices)

The traditional classroom vs. the constructivist classroom

Traditional Classroom Assessment of student learning is viewed as separate from teaching and occurs almost entirely through testing.
Teachers generally behave in a didactic manner, disseminating information to students. Teachers seek the correct answers to validate student lessons.

Constructivist Classroom Assessment of student learning is interwoven with teaching and occurs through teacher observation of students at work and through exhibitions and portfolios.
Teachers generally behave in an interactive manner mediating the environment for students. Teachers seek the student's point of view in order to understand student learning for use in subsequent conceptions.

The traditional classroom vs. the constructivist classroom

Traditional Classroom Teachers generally behave in a didactic manner, disseminating information to students. Teachers generally behave in a didactic manner, disseminating information to students. Teachers seek the correct answers to validate student lessons. Constructivist Classroom Teachers generally behave in an interactive manner mediating the environment for students. Teachers generally behave in an interactive manner mediating the environment for students. Teachers seek the student's point of view in order to understand student learning for use in subsequent conceptions.

The Constructivist Teacher vs. the Constructivist Student

Teachers who use a constructivist learning style might:

Students who receive constructivist learning methods might:

Ask open-ended questions. Allow time for students to respond.

Allow responses to drive lessons.

Allow students to reflect. Encourage open communication. Focus on students thinking. Appraise learning. Facilitate discussions. Set learning goals. Allow students to represent their knowledge.

Explore, invent, and discover new knowledge. Construct their own learning. Work in groups. Communicate knowledge. Assess their own work. Reflect on their learning.

Carpenter, 2003

Constructivism Impact on:

Curriculum--Constructivism calls for the elimination of a standardised curriculum. Instead, it promotes using curricula customized to the students' prior knowledge. Also, it emphasizes hands-on problem solving.

Constructivism Impact on:

Instruction focus on making connections between facts fostering new understanding in students. Instructors tailor their teaching strategies to student responses. Students are encouraged to analyze, interpret, and predict information. Teachers also rely heavily on open-ended questions extensive dialogue/ interaction among students.

Constructivism Impact on:

Assessment--Constructivism calls for the elimination of grades and standardized testing. Instead, assessment becomes part of the learning process so that students play a larger role in judging their own progress.

Sources

http://www.ncsu.edu/felderpublic/Learning_Styles.html http://www.ldpride.net/learningstyles.MI.htm

http://www.cyg.net/~jblackmo/diglib/styl-a.html