LEARNING THEORIES

1. LEARNING THEORIES Cognitive and Behavioral Theories By: Elva Juarez

2. Learning theories are the psychological perspectives that describe different approaches to how people learn.

3. Learning Theories Behaviorism- equates learning with changes in either the form or frequency of observable performance. Cognitivism- connections are made between old and new information in meaningful interactions, i.e.. synthesis of information.

4. Behavioral Theorist Ivan Pavlov (September 14, 1849 – February 27, 1936) He was a Russian physiologist, psychologist and physician. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1904 for research pertaining to the digestive system. Pavlov is widely known for first describing the phenomenon of classical conditioning.

5. Behavioral Learning Theory • How does learning occur? • Sensory impressions • Stimulus  Response  Consequence • How do we know that learning takes place? • Observable change in behavior • How does transfer occur? • Similar stimuli

6. Behavioral Learning TheoryClassical Conditioning This is a form of associative learning that was first demonstrated by Ivan Pavlov. The typical procedure for inducing classical conditioning involves presentations of a neutral stimulus along with a stimulus of some significance.

7. Cognitive Theorist B. F. Skinner (March 20, 1904 – August 18, 1990) He was an American psychologist, author, inventor, advocate for social reform, and poet. He invented the operant conditioning chamber, innovated his own philosophy of science called Radical Behaviorism and founded his own school of experimental research psychology—the experimental analysis of behavior.

8. Cognitive Learning Theory • How does learning occur? • Connections are made between old and new information in meaningful interactions. • How do know that learning takes place? • Synthesis of information • How does transfer occur? • Through exposure to similar contexts

9. Cognitive Learning TheoryInformation-processing This theory focuses on how people process the information they receive from the environment; how they perceive and/or interpret the stimuli around them, how they store what they've perceived in their memories, and how they recall and apply what they have learned when they need to use the knowledge.

10. The Impact In Teaching Behaviorism and Cognitivism are two major psychological perspectives that have dominated how learning has been viewed.

11. Classical Conditioning Impact in Teaching/Training • New manager tasked with creating meeting agenda • He reviews past agendas and templates • Develops agendas that will have to be corrected • Eventually develops “correct” agenda according to company standards.

12. Information Processing Impact in Teaching/Training • Manager is asked to teach intern with no experience a cost-benefit analysis • Manager relates analysis to similar procedure known by intern (i.e. personal buy/no-buy decision making) • Similar procedure allows intern to apply a familiar context • Recall cues are increased, learning is accelerated, new knowledge is stored.

13. Learning Theories Although there is an interest in the search and development of new theories to assist in teaching and learning practices, behaviorism and cognitivism are two major psychological perspectives that have dominated how learning has been viewed and teaching practices have been developed.

14. Sources • Markle, S. (1969). Good Frames and Bad (2nd ed.). New York: Wiley. • Skinner, B.F. (1950). Are theories of learning necessary? Psychological Review, 57(4), 193-216. • Skinner, B.F. (1954). The science of learning and the art of teaching. Harvard Educational Review, 24(2), 86-97. • Saunders, B (2006). Ivan Pavlov, Exploring the Mysteries of Behavior. Library Binding.