Teaching /Learning / ICT

1. Teaching /Learning / ICT In teaching, what are the assumptions made about different forms of learning? Teacher, implicitly has a model of learning. Educational software, being a resource, designed to support teaching and learning, will incorporate such models. What kind of learning have designers of software got in mind?

2. Skinner: Behaviourist Learning Theories Gagne: Conditions of Learning Ausubel: Subsumption Theory Some Examples Miller: Information Processing Piaget: Genetic Epistemology Vygotsky: Social Development Lave: Situated Learning Gardner: Multiple Intelligences Bruner, Dewey: Constructivist

3. Skinner’s law of operant conditioning No account of mental processes. Correct or desired behaviour is reinforced. No action is taken after incorrect or undesired behaviour - the behaviour will gradually disappear. http://www.gwu.edu/~tip/skinner.html

4. Gagne - Conditions of Learning • Types of learning: verbal, intellectual skills, cognitive strategies, motor skills and attitudes. • Each different type requires different types of instruction. • Different internal and external conditions needed for each type of learning. • http://www.gwu.edu/~tip/gagne.html

5. Ausubel and Subsumption Theory Concerned with reception learning in school settings. Subsumption involves reorganisation of existing cognitive structures not development of new structures. Use of Advance Organisers. http://www.gwu.edu/~tip/ausubel.html

6. Information Processing Theory and Miller “Chunking” and short term memory. TOTE (Test-Operate-Test-Exit)to replace stimulus-response as basic unit of behaviour. http://www.gwu.edu/~tip/miller.html

7. Piaget and Genetic Epistemology Interested in how knowledge developed in human organisms. Cognitive process change due to assimilation and accommodation. Four primary cognitive structures. http://www.gwu.edu/~tip/piaget.html

8. Vygotsky and Social Development theory He developed the Zone of Proximal Development. The role of language in cognitive development, problem solving and learning. Adult guidance or peer collaboration exceeds what can be attained alone. Teacher is someone who is active, communicative participant in learning. http://www.gwu.edu/~tip/vygotsky.html

9. Social Learning Theory and Bandura Most human behaviour is learned observationally through modelling. Four parts to observational learning; Attention, Retention, Motor Reproduction and Motivation. http://www.gwu.edu/~tip/bandura.html

10. Lave and Situated Learning: Knowledge is contextually situated and is influenced by the activity, context, and culture in which it is used Learners become involved in a “community of practice” which embodies certain beliefs and behaviours to be acquired. http://www.gwu.edu/~tip/lave.html

11. Gardner and Multiple Intelligences Different forms of intelligences: linguistic, musical, logical-mathematical, spatial, body-kinesthetic, intrapersonal (insight) and interpersonal (social skills). Learning and teaching should focus on particular intelligences of each person. http://www.gwu.edu/~tip/gardner.html

12. Constructivism (Bruner, Dewey) • Learning is an active process. Teacher and student are engaged in an active dialogue. • Learners construct new ideas/concepts based upon current and past knowledge. • Spiral learning - students build on what they have learned. • http://www.gwu.edu/~tip/bruner.html

13. Reflections What type of educational software would support each theory?