Human Development and Learning Definitions Quiz

Brain Hemispheres and Brain Plasticity

• The right hemisphere is responsible for spatial-visual information and emotions
• Brain hemispheres work in a coordinated and collaborative way
• Brain plasticity refers to the adaptability of the brain to compensate for damaged areas

Definitions of Learning

• Learning is an enduring change in behavior or the capacity to behave in a given fashion, resulting from practice or experience (Schunk, 2009)
• Learning is a relatively permanent change in thinking, feeling, relating, interacting, and behaving that comes about due to experience, reflection, and action (Zimba, 2005)
• People learn to think, create, do things, live with others, mentor, and understand

Theories of Learning

Behavioural Perspective

• Learning is a change in the frequency and form of behavior that occurs as a function of changes in the environment
• The frequency of a behavior will increase if it is rewarded (reinforced)
• Explanations of learning do not take into account learners' thoughts, beliefs, and feelings

Cognitive Perspective

• Learning is an internal mental phenomenon inferred from what people do and say
• The thrust of learning is on the processing of learned information (acquisition, organization, storage, retrieval, and forgetting)
• Learning is influenced by thoughts, beliefs, and feelings learners have

Humanistic Perspective

• Learning is influenced by feelings, emotions, attitudes, interests, intentions, and expectations
• The social context and groups influence the manner in which human beings think, behave, learn, and relate to each other
• Learning takes place in social contexts and is partially a product of this context

Human Development

Definition

• Human development refers to relatively permanent changes in human beings that occur in an orderly way
• These changes enable human beings to make sense of and adapt to their physical, personal, and social environments in more organized, effective, and complex ways

Types of Development

Physical Development

• Changes in body structure and function over time
• Normally, this involves genetically programmed, naturally occurring changes over time

Personal Development

• Changes in personality that take place as one grows
• Changes involving becoming an extrovert or an introvert, developing sexual orientation, etc.

Social Development

• Changes over time in the ways we relate to others
• Learning to live with others, care, belong, cooperate, and be empathetic

Emotional Development

• Development of feelings, emotions, attitudes, beliefs, and values

Cognitive Development

• Gradual, orderly changes by which mental processes become more complex and sophisticated
• Learning to obey reason and logic, solve problems, enquire, explore, and create

General Principles of Development

• People develop at different rates
• Development is relatively orderly
• Development takes place gradually, not overnight

The Brain and Human Development

• The brain enables human development in all its spheres to take place
• Brain specialization: different parts of the brain are responsible for different functions
• Auditory, visual, and motor contexts are essential for language development, perceiving sights, and movement and coordination
• Lateralisation: the brain is divided into the left and right hemisphere, with the left hemisphere processing language, etc.