Learning theories AMJAD KHAN QURESHI

Behaviorism

according to behaviorists people’s actions are driven by a need to gain rewards or avoid punishments

Behaviorists were interested only in observable behaviors, and they did all sorts of studies to see how different rewards and punishments affected people's behaviors.

Example

a child who does not do her homework when she does, it's only half-finished

refusing to follow rules

cracking jocks at teachers

how can a teacher handle it?

Reinforcement and Punishment

this concept was given by B. F. Skinner

through reinforcement we always strengthen a good behavior

through punishment we always weaken a bad behavior

Reinforcement

it is further divided into two subtypes

1. positive Reinforcement

2. negative Reinforcement

here positive doesn’t mean good but add something

negative means taking something away

Positive Reinforcement For example

a child who is problematic and usually doesn’t do his/her work but if he tried to do his/her homework even if the question is wrong teacher should give him/her A grade

Negative Reinforcement

for example

if a child does his homework assignment teacher should drop the lowest grade in such way teacher is taking away something that student doesn’t want.

Punishment

further divided into subtypes

positive punishment

negative punishment

Positive punishment

for example

a student doesn’t follow classroom rules

by detention his/her teacher can weaken his/her behavior

Negative punishment

Example

if a student doesn’t obey school’s rules teacher should ban his/her school field trip in such a way his/her behavior can be weaken

Information processing theory

the information processing theory of learning says that information from the world around us moves from sensory storage to working memory to long-term memory.

for example

a student facing problem in retrieving information in a paragraph due to cognitive load

Cognitive load involves having too much information in working memory and not being able to remember anything

Cont…..

teacher can help such a student in two ways

1. encourage attention and rehearsal

2. Only present a few things at a time

Humanism

the idea that people want to grow and fulfill their ultimate potential

Self-Directed Learning what student want and need to learn, not what the teacher arbitrarily decides is important. In this way, the teacher becomes more of a facilitator than a disciplinarian

Constructivism

Constructivism is a philosophy of education that says that people construct

knowledge through their experiences and interactions with the world

it says that people learn through experience, not through hearing someone give a lecture

for example

a student has a problem in understanding physics

Use in the classroom

Social Learning

constructivism is closely linked to learning through interactions with other people, or social learning

for example

a student can read a textbook on her own, but it doesn't really sink in. But when student is with

others, can ask questions, brainstorm ideas, and flesh out her thoughts until she really

understands something

Continue….

Psychologist Lev Vygotsky pointed out that the most effective form of social learning doesn't

come from teacher interactions with students but from students' interactions with other

students

Example

Zone of Proximal Development

zone of proximal development says that people learn best from other people who

are just a little ahead of them

Example

the teacher can give them the physics problem and have them work together to figure it out

The teacher is there to support the students

Connectionism

connectionism is an educational philosophy that says that learning is a product of

the relationship between stimulus and response.

. stimulus

is something that causes a reaction

response

is just a reaction to a stimulus.

The sights and smells of the cake are the stimulus, and they are very likely to produce a response in you that involves drooling and maybe even a growling stomach.

Continue…..

Edward Thorndike proposed that connectionism is key to learning

learning is about responding to stimuli

Use in Classroom

S-R bond The stronger the S-R bond, the better a person has learned the lesson

example The stimulus in this case is studying, and the response is the grade

Law of effect 

It says that if a stimulus results in a positive outcome, it strengthens the S-R bond, while if it results in a negative outcome, the S-R bond is weakened

study vs grades

student who gets good grades when he/she studies

student gets a bad grade after not studying

How to strengthen S-R bonds?

teacher could reward effort as well as

teacher could also punish bad habits

Using law of effect 1. the students will be more likely to work hard

2. less likely to not pay attention

Continue….. Law of Exercise the more you do something, the better you are at it. That is, 'practice makes perfect'!

Thorndike, the more you do something, the stronger the S-R bond and the easier it becomes

example students has a problem in learning multiplication tables

teacher can use flash cards to practice the table

Continue….

law of readiness or the ‘Law of Action Tendency’ Readiness means a preparation of action example in classroom a student should be attracted and motivated by a curriculum

Thank You…..