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Learning Theory. Amy Fann November 11, 2013 EDUC660. The Learning Process. the brain plays a role in learning, the way the learning environment is constructed makes a difference, learning is based on the associations or connections we make,
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Learning Theory Amy Fann November 11, 2013 EDUC660
The Learning Process • the brain plays a role in learning, • the way the learning environment is constructed makes a difference, • learning is based on the associations or connections we make, • learning occurs in particular social and cultural environments, and finally, • the different ways people think and feel about their own learning affects their development as learners.
Different Views… Theorists discuss a variety of learning styles and learning style models. The models are differentiated by the manner in which theorists define dimensions of learning. For example, Jansen (1998) and Kolab (1982) as reported in Yilmaz-Soylu & Akkoyunlu (2002), offer differing definitions of learning style. Janen defines learning style as a “sort of way of thinking, comprehending, and processing information” while Kolab describes learning style to be “a method of personal choice to perceive and process information … In this sense, learning style is on one hand, sensory, and on the other hand, mental” (p. 44).
How does learning occur? The continued increase of diversity in today’s society has lead to educational expansion on the delivery methods of education. As educators we can not continue to teach only to one type of learner and expect the other students to adapt in order to learn. Instead we must adapt our teaching to fit the learning styles of the students we are presented with.
How does learning occur? Diversity of students along with advances in technology have influenced teacher to reconsider traditional instructional methods and consider the importance of the students learning style.
Factors that Influence Learning • Atmosphere and environment for students • Learning through movement can increases blood flow to the brain, which helps improve memory, concentration, physical coordination, and organization • Choice-Offering students choices can affect their overall involvement and understanding of the material. • Differences- gender based influences
Factors that Influence Learning • Emotions- Emotions and our brain power are intertwined; therefore, making emotions a significant source of learning • Goals- You are responsible for instructing the students on how to establish goals, work towards their goals and achieve their goals- high expectations • Interest- Interesting subject matters to students
Factors that influence learning • Kinesthetic learning is a learning style where students learn best by experiencing or touching the world around them.
Role of Memory Cognitivism, as a learning theory, is the theory that humans generate knowledge and meaning through sequential development of an individual’s cognitive abilities, such as the mental processes of recognition, recollection, analysis, reflection, application, creation, understanding, and evaluation.
Role of Memory • Cognitive theories look beyond behavior to consider how human memory works to promote learning, and an understanding of short term and long term memory is important to educators influenced by Cognitive Theory.
Role of Motivation • Social Learning Theory originated from Albert Bandura. He believed that behaviorism alone could not explain all that be observed. He believed that behavior and the environment affected each other. (Boeree, 2010)
Role of Motivation • Bandura’s famous BoBo experiment concluded the following. • 1. Attention to task affects learning. • 2. Information learned must be retained. • 3. You must be able to reproduce or imitate the behaviors learned. • 4. Motivation either from past, promised, or vicarious reinforcement drives imitation and punishment never works as well as reinforcement.
Role of Motivation “And yet, with all this, you’re still not going to do anything unless you are motivated to imitate, i.e. until you have some reason for doing it.” (Boeree, 2010)
Role of Motivation • Past reinforcement, aka traditional behaviorism. • Promised reinforcements (incentives) that we can imagine. • Vicarious reinforcement -- seeing and recalling the model being reinforced. “Notice that these are, traditionally, considered to be the things that “cause” learning. Bandura is saying that they don’t so much cause learning as cause us to demonstrate what we have learned. That is, he sees them as motives.” (Boeree, 2010)
Role of Motivation Negative motivations are there as well, giving you reasons not to imitate someone: • Past punishment. • Promised punishment (threats) • Vicarious punishment. Like most traditional behaviorists, Bandura says that “punishment in whatever form does not work as well as reinforcement and, in fact, has a tendency to “backfire” on us.” (Boeree, 2010)
Conclusion Successful school counselor will need to be able to translate theory into effective researched based interventions for individual students and groups. Along with implementation of theory they will also need to have the ability to identify learning styles and respond to societal changes and trends.
Conclusion “School counselors and school psychologists have long functioned as crucial educational personnel assisting students, parents, teachers, administrators, and other school personnel in meeting the educational and behavioral objectives of children within and outside of the classroom. Among the pressing issues in education today is the need to identify effective strategies to accommodate the increasing cultural and linguistic diversity of U.S. students. In particular, there is a great need to appropriately identify culturally and linguistically diverse students with special learning needs to ensure that they receive suitable services. This requires that students are not erroneously labeled and placed in services that are not needed as well as ensuring that students who require such services are able to receive them. In addition, it is critical that the needs of regular education students are met.” (Barona, 2006)
References Barona, A & Barona, M. (2006) School Counselors and School Psychologists: Collaborating to Ensure Minority Students Receive Appropriate Consideration for Special Educational Programs Retrieved November 10, 2013 from http://www.readingrockets.org/article/26362/ Boeree, C. George Ph. D. (1998) Albert Bandura. Personality Theories. Retrieved June 21, 2010 from http://webspace.ship.edu/cgboer/bandura.html Docochs. (2008) Theory Master Theater-Bandura Social Learning. You Tube. Retrieved June 21, 2010 from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byhLPxT_FJQ Yilmaz-Soylu, M. & Akkoyunlu, B. (2002, October). The effect of learning styles on achievement in different learning environments. The Turkish Online Journal of Educational Technology, 8(4), 43-50. Retrieved from http://personal.ashland.edu/dkommer/ABCs%20of%20BBL.pdf http://www.learner.org/courses/learningclassroom/support/01_intro.pdf http://www.vark-learn.com/english/index.asp http://www.editgrid.com/user/flopro/Learning_Theories_Matrix
