Overview of Learning Theory

1. Overview of Learning Theory Scholar Training Project for Southwest Jiaotong University Presented by Dr. J. Shane Robinson Associate Director, ITLE

2. Behavioral Learning Theories • Behaviorism • Social Cognitive

3. Behaviorism Theory • Learning is a change in behavior. • Explains learning in terms of environmental and external events. • Interested in how people respond to stimuli.

4. Behaviorism cont. • Stimuli – perceivable units of the environment or events that may affect behavior • Responses – observable reactions to stimuli • Contiguity – whenever two sensations occur together over and over again, they become associated • School bell (stimulus) • Scurrying student • zipping backpacks, slamming lockers, crowded hallways, etc. (responses)

5. Types of Behaviorism • Classical Conditioning • Operant Conditioning

6. Classical Conditioning • Developed by Pavlov • Includes stimuli and responses • Unconditioned Stimulus (US) – automatically produces a response • Unconditioned Response (UR) – naturally occurring response • Conditioned Stimulus(CS) – an object used to stimulate a response • Conditioned Response(CR) – learned response

7. Operant Conditioning • Developed by B. F. Skinner • People learn by doing. • Learn through reinforcement & punishment. • Reinforcer – A stimulus that increases the frequency of behaviors.

8. Social Cognitive Theory • Developed by Albert Bandura • Learning occurs in a social environment. • Assesses one’s self-esteem and self-efficacy.

9. Social Cognitive cont. • Social Cognition – learning occurs through modeling andobserving. • Observational learning – when a person observes or imitates someone else’s behavior. • Self-efficacy – the belief that one can master a situation and produce positive outcomes.

10. 4 Factors of Observational Learning • Attention – Learners must attend to the model. • Retention – Learners must retain the behavior. • Production – Learners attempt to produce the behavior. • Motivation – Desire to reproduce the behavior.

11. Cognitive Learning Theories AGED 3103 Dr. Robinson

12. What do you see? Kitchel & Torres (2005)

13. Comparing the two sets of Theories • Behavioral Learning Theories – focuses on observable changes in outwardbehavior & on the impact of external stimuli to effect change. • Cognitive Learning Theories – focuses on the internal mental processes, how they change, and how they affect external behavior changes.

14. Behavioral New behaviors are learned. Reinforcement strengthens responses. Teacher-centered instruction Cognitive Knowledge is learned. Reinforcement is feedback or information. Student-centered instruction Behavioral vs. Cognitive Learning

15. Cognitive View of Learning • Look at how people process and organize information and construct knowledge. • Assess how people makesense of the knowledge they gain. • Assume that humans are active participants in their own acts of cognition.

16. Cognitive Learning Theories • Constructivism • Information Processing • Brain-Based Learning (BBL)

17. Constructivism • Individuals must experience learning. • Meaning must occur. • Prior knowledge must exist.

18. Elements of Constructivism • Embed learning in complex, realistic, and relevant learning environments. • Learning is a shared responsibility. • Learning supports multiple perspectives. • Encourages ownership in learning.

19. Information Processing Theory • Encoding – process of gathering and representing information • Storage – process of putting new information in memory • Retrieval – remembering previously stored information

20. Types of memory • Sensory • Working • Long-term

21. Sensory memory • Holds information in original form • Has large capacity • Short duration (1-3 seconds)

22. Working memory • Where info. is held while it is processed • 5-9 bits of info. for 20-30 seconds • Maintenance rehearsal – repeating info. over and over again • Elaborative rehearsal – associating info. with something you already know

23. Long-term memory • Holds info. for long periods of time • Declarative knowledge – “knowing that” something is the case; facts • Semantic – general knowledge about the world • Episodic – info. tied to a particular time & place • Procedural memory – how to do things • Large capacity

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25. Quiz

26. Brain-Based Learning • An extension of info. processing theory. • Identifies the brain and its functions in the learning process. • Determines ways in which the brain operates. • Focuses on emotions and experiences. • Focuses on the learning environment. • Safety and security of students are a must!

27. How the brain functions • New dendrites are formed. • Connections increase in complexity. • Neurons fire to create a stronger, more intense, connection.

28. Emotion Relevance Patterns and Context Meaning Factors associated with BBL

29. What do you see? Kitchel & Torres (2005)

30. What about now? Kitchel & Torres (2005)