Among these web sites, our group are very interested in the "Learning Theories". We all go through it and shared some opinions about it.
From our perspectives, the "Learning Theories" has 6 columns: Introduction, Your Task, Learning Process ,Resources, Conclusion and Facilitatot's Guide. The Introduction and the Facilitatot's Guide tell us the goal and the summary of the web. We discussed the questions of "Your Task" and "Conclusion" and did the activities proposed in the "Learning Process". The "Resources" which we thought is very valuable gives us some information about the learning theories.
The learning theories we learned from the web are very important and we now use several of the in our class of HKU. For example, when attending MITE 6024, we've used Behaviorism, Cognitive and Constructivism. The class provides us a 3 hours in-class learning and teaching environment per week and in-class and online activities, such as online discussions. These kinds of stimulus events encourage students to exchange their knowledge to increase their cognitions. Also the stimulus events help students to build and construct related knowledge from actual experiences. Besides, from "Learning Theories" we found the four aspect- communication, assessment & feedback, study skills support, and learning resources- are also used in our courses.
However, in our opinions, the "Learning Theories" still has something to work on to make it more perfect. First is about the sequence of the columns. From left to right, it will be better to begin with "Introduction" as the summary and go deeper then the questions at last. Besides, we think the web should talk something about the learning environments which also belongs to learning theories and important. the design of learning environments need to be guided/grounded in the learning theories. The course MITE 6024 for example is utilizing all the three theories of learning covered: Behaviorism, Cognitive and Constructivism. There are few intuitivist aspects, which occur normally when the teacher gives us some instruction and elaborations about certain concepts or work to do. And it is very important to create an environment to teachers and students & students and students to interact and communicate. Teachers should not give everything to students, but to give them space and chance to think and exchange ideas. Lastly, we think the web should also contain something about using different types of learning activities which provide variety, otherwise it would be boring to students. Getting feedback from students on the learning activities, can modify or vary the activities - students are the ones who are taking the activities.
These are our own opinions about the web “Learning Theories” and some of them may not be true, any suggestion is welcomed, thank you!!!
After reading a large quantity of materials online,I realized a learning theory is an attempt to describe how people and animals learn, thereby helping us understand the inherently complex process of learning. Learning theories have two chief values according to Hill (2002). One is in providing us with vocabulary and a conceptual framework for interpreting the examples of learning that we observe. The other is in suggesting where to look for solutions to practical problems. The theories do not give us solutions, but they do direct our attention to those variables that are crucial in finding solutions.
ReplyDeleteThere are three main categories or philosophical frameworks under which learning theories fall: behaviorism, cognitivism, and constructivism.
-Behaviorism focuses only on the objectively observable aspects of learning.
-Cognitive theories look beyond behavior to explain brain-based learning.
-Constructivism views learning as a process in which the learner actively constructs or builds new ideas or concepts.
Here is the website I recommend to help to learn more about learning theory
http://www.infed.org/biblio/b-learn.htm
-Olivia
There is a useful website to share with all of you who are interested in learning theories:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.learning-theories.com/
This website contains quantities of resources that are useful for scholars of various fields such as educational psychology, instructional design, and human-computer interaction.
The 3 kinds of learning theory stages can be：
ReplyDeleteBehaviorism
Behaviorism as a theory was primarily developed by B. F. Skinner. It loosely encompasses the work of people like Edward Thorndike, Tolman, Guthrie, and Hull. What characterizes these investigators are their underlying assumptions about the process of learning. In essence, three basic assumptions are held to be true.[original research?] First, learning is manifested by a change in behavior. Second, the environment shapes behavior. And third, the principles of contiguity (how close in time two events must be for a bond to be formed) and reinforcement (any means of increasing the likelihood that an event will be repeated) are central to explaining the learning process. For behaviorism, learning is the acquisition of new behavior through conditioning.
There are two types of possible conditioning:
1) Classical conditioning, where the behavior becomes a reflex response to stimulus as in the case of Pavlov's Dogs. Pavlov was interested in studying reflexes, when he saw that the dogs drooled without the proper stimulus. Although no food was in sight, their saliva still dribbled. It turned out that the dogs were reacting to lab coats. Every time the dogs were served food, the person who served the food was wearing a lab coat. Therefore, the dogs reacted as if food was on its way whenever they saw a lab coat.In a series of experiments, Pavlov then tried to figure out how these phenomena were linked. For example, he struck a bell when the dogs were fed. If the bell was sounded in close association with their meal, the dogs learned to associate the sound of the bell with food. After a while, at the mere sound of the bell, they responded by drooling.
2) Operant conditioning where there is reinforcement of the behavior by a reward or a punishment. The theory of operant conditioning was developed by B.F. Skinner and is known as Radical Behaviorism. The word ‘operant’ refers to the way in which behavior ‘operates on the environment’. Briefly, a behavior may result either in reinforcement, which increases the likelihood of the behavior recurring, or punishment, which decreases the likelihood of the behavior recurring. It is important to note that, a punishment is not considered to be applicable if it does not result in the reduction of the behavior, and so the terms punishment and reinforcement are determined as a result of the actions. Within this framework, behaviorists are particularly interested in measurable changes in behavior.
Since behaviorists view the learning process as a change in behavior, educators arrange the environment to elicit desired responses through such devices as behavioral objectives, competency -based education, and skill development and training.
Educational approaches such as applied behavior analysis, curriculum based measurement, and direct instruction have emerged from this model.
Cognitivism (psychology)
ReplyDeleteThe earliest challenge to the behaviorists came in a publication in 1929 by Bode, a gestalt psychologist. He criticized behaviorists for being too dependent on overt behavior to explain learning. Gestalt psychologists proposed looking at the patterns rather than isolated events. Gestalt views of learning have been incorporated into what have come to be labeled cognitive theories. Two key assumptions underlie this cognitive approach: (1) that the memory system is an active organized processor of information and (2) that prior knowledge plays an important role in learning. Cognitive theories look beyond behavior to explain brain-based learning. Cognitivists consider how human memory works to promote learning. For example, the physiological processes of sorting and encoding information and events into short term memory and long term memory are important to educators working under the cognitive theory. The major difference between gestaltists and behaviorists is the locus of control over the learning activity: the individual learner is more key to gestaltists than the environment that behaviorists emphasize.
Once memory theories like the Atkinson-Shiffrin memory model and Baddeley's working memory model were established as a theoretical framework in cognitive psychology, new cognitive frameworks of learning began to emerge during the 1970s, 80s, and 90s. Today, researchers are concentrating on topics like cognitive load and information processing theory. These theories of learning play a role in influencing instructional design.Aspects of cognitivism can be found in learning how to learn, social role acquisition, intelligence, learning, and memory as related to age.
Educators employing a cognitivist approach to learning would view learning as internal mental process (including insight, information processing, memory, perception) where in order to develop learner capacity and skills to improve learning, the educator structures content of learning activities to focus on building intelligence and cognitive and meta-cognitive development.
Constructivism
ReplyDeleteThe learning theories of Jean Piaget, Jerome Bruner, Lev Vygotsky and John Dewey serve as the foundation of constructivist learning theory.Constructivism views learning as a process in which the learner actively constructs or builds new ideas or concepts based upon current and past knowledge or experience. In other words, "learning involves constructing one's own knowledge from one's own experiences." Constructivist learning, therefore, is a very personal endeavor, whereby internalized concepts, rules, and general principles may consequently be applied in a practical real-world context. This is also known as social constructivism (see social constructivism). Social constructivists posit that knowledge is constructed when individuals engage socially in talk and activity about shared problems or tasks. Learning is seen as the process by which individuals are introduced to a culture by more skilled members".Constructivism itself has many variations, such as Active learning, discovery learning, and knowledge building. Regardless of the variety, constructivism promotes a student's free exploration within a given framework or structure.The teacher acts as a facilitator who encourages students to discover principles for themselves and to construct knowledge by working to solve realistic problems. Aspects of constructivism can be found in self-directed learning, transformational learning, experiential learning, situated cognition, and reflective practice and religious practice.
REF：http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Learning_theory_(education)
I found an interesting paper about learning theories, may be you can check on it.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.elearnspace.org/Articles/connectivism.htm
This paper has mentioned another learning theory called "connectivism". Behaviorism, cognitivism, and constructivism are the three broad learning theories most often utilized in the creation of instructional environments. These theories, however, were developed in a time when learning was not impacted through technology.
Connectivism presents a model of learning that acknowledges the tectonic shifts in society where learning is no longer an internal, individualistic activity. How people work and function is altered when new tools are utilized. The field of education has been slow to recognize both the impact of new learning tools and the environmental changes in what it means to learn. Connectivism provides insight into learning skills and tasks needed for learners to flourish in a digital era.(George, 2004)
This webpage also contains a website link about the connectivism. Hope this will inspire our thoughts.
http://www.connectivism.ca/
Learning theories are about how learning developed, which based on the philosophy about nature of knowledge. There are three main catalogs made up of learning theory: behaviorism, cognitivism, and constructivism. Behaviorism focuses only on the objectively observable aspects of learning. Cognitive theories look beyond behavior to explain brain-based learning. And constructivism views learning as a process in which the learner actively constructs or builds new ideas or concepts.
ReplyDeleteBehaviorism is produced by three assumptions: First, learning is drived by a change of behavior. Second, the environment forms behavior. And third, the contiguity and reinforcement are central to explaining the learning process. For behaviorism, learning is the accumulation of changed behavior in different situation.
Cognitivism considers how human recognition works to improve learning. Two assumptions sustain the cognitive theory: (1) that the memory system is an active organized processor of information and (2) that prior knowledge plays an important role in learning. Cognitive tools are knowledge construction tools that extend the mind (Jonassen, 1996) These tools like Mind Map, Mathmatica, Facedemo require students to think meaningful way in order to use applications to express what they have learnt.
Constructivism are established by Jean Piaget, Jerome Bruner, Lev Vygotsky and John Dewey, who think learning process is an activity to build new ideas and concepts based on past knowledge and experiences. In other words, "learning involves constructing one's own knowledge from one's own experiences." This view can be the direction of students-centered learning, teacher acts as a facilitator who guide and encourage student’s work, but not involve. Self-learning from the past to the new is a reflective practice to constructivism.
Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Learning_theory_(education)
Nebula