Midterm

• A set of principles that explain how best a student can acquire, retain, and recall new information.

  Learning Theories
• • Based on the idea that knowledge is independent and on the exterior of the learner. In a behaviorist’s mind, the learner is a blank slate that should be provided with the information to be learnt. 
  • Through this interaction, new associations are made and thus learning occurs. Learning is achieved when the provided stimulus changes behavior. A non-educational example of this is the work done by Pavlov.
  • It involves repeated actions, verbal reinforcement and incentives to take part. It is great for establishing rules, especially for behavior management.

  Behaviourism
• • It focuses on the idea that students process information they receive rather than just responding to a stimulus, as with behaviorism.
  • There is still a behavior change evident, but this is in response to thinking and processing information.
  • Learning occurs when the student reorganizes information, either by finding new explanations or adapting old ones.
  • This is viewed as a change in knowledge and is stored in the memory rather than just being viewed as a change in behavior.
  • Mainly attributed to Jean Piaget.

  Cognitivism
• • Based on the premise that we construct learning new ideas based on our own prior knowledge and experiences.
  • Learning, therefore, is unique to the individual learner.
  • Students adapt their models of understanding either by reflecting on prior theories or resolving misconceptions.
  • Students need to have a prior base of knowledge for constructivist approaches to be effective.
  • As students are constructing their own knowledge base, outcomes cannot always be anticipated, therefore, the teacher should check and challenge misconceptions that may have arisen.

  Constructivism
• ➢ Defined learning as a more or less permanent change in behavior

  ➢ They postulated that behavior is a result of a series of conditioned reflexes, and all emotion and thought are a result of behavior learned through conditioning.

  Watson & Pavlov
• ➢ Proposed that stimulus-response bonds are strengthened by reinforcements such as reward or punishment.

  ➢ He hypothesized that behavior that is rewarded is more likely to reoccur.

  Thorndike & Skinner