Goals for Today

1. Learning Theory Applied to TeachingFrank T. StritterThe University of North Carolina bat Chapel Hill

2. Goals for Today • State names of the five theories • Describe each theory briefly • Think about the role of theory

3. What islearning? Learning is a persisting change in an individual’s understanding, performance or potential brought about by meaningful interaction with the environment.

4. What is a theory? • Principle that guides • Specifies instructor’s activities which bring about learning

5. Learning Theories • Behavioral • Cognitive • Constructivist • Humanistic • Developmental

6. Behavioral • B. F. Skinner • Observable behavior • Objectives written by instructor • Instructor provides stimulus, asks for response and reinforces • Learner in third person

7. Instructional Strategies • Provide specific objectives • Expect learners to move at own pace • Provide information, ask for response • Present material in small steps • Assess learner frequently • Provide immediate feedback which is both positive and corrective • Revise instruction based on data

8. Cognitive • Bruner, Ausubel, Gagne • Learning is meaningful connection to and organization of memory • Objectives are general • Instructor arranges conditions and develops structure • Learner in third person

9. Instructional Strategies • Assess learner’s prerequisite skills • Use advance organizers • Provide structure, examples, images • Connect new concepts to previous • Ask learner to form own questions • Ask “What if..?” questions • Be as concerned with thought process as with the right answer

10. Constructivist • Albert Bandura • Develop shared meaning by participating in learning community • Objectives developed together • Instructor sets example and reacts • Learner in first person

11. Instructional Strategies • Base learning on practical experience • Ask learners for their hypotheses • Model performance, problem solving • Help learners generate links • Facilitate discussions • Use cooperation, collaboration • Assess learning in context

12. Humanistic • Rogers, Knowles • Learning is satisfying own needs • Objectives developed by learner • Instructor reacts to learner’s needs • Learner in first person

13. Instructional Strategies • Develop learning contract with learner • Help learners make choices • Incorporate learner’s prior experience • Ask learners to present to each other • Guide discussions • Ask learner to evaluate own learning • Serve as consultant

14. Developmental • Jean Piaget • Learning is maturation • Learning occurs in stages • Objectives based on norms • Diagnose stage and react • Learner changes from third • to first

15. Instructional Strategies • Determine learner’s stage • Keep growth chart • Emphasize discovery of principles • Help learner accept responsibility • Change teaching style • Directing to facilitating to consulting

16. Points of Agreement • Goals are important • Simple to complex • Learner must be active • Reinforcement • Group support • Attitude toward learning and context

17. My Advice • Systematic design - B • How learning occurs - Cog • Interactions with others - Con • Adjusting instruction - D • Self-determination - H