MIDW 485/NURS 413 Unit 2: Learning Theories

Course Information

• Course title: MIDW 485/NURS 413: Principles, Theories and Practices of Nurse/Midwifery Education
• Institution: GARDEN CITY UNIVERSITY COLLEGE, KENYASE-KUMASI

Unit 2: Learning Theories

• Unit 2 covers learning theories
• Key topics include Behaviorism, Cognitivism, Constructivism, Humanistic Theory, Social Learning theory, and Individual Psychological Differences

Introduction

• Different people have different learning experiences.
• Educational psychologists have studied learning and developed theories to explain the learning process.
• Learning theories serve as guidelines for teaching and learning
• Learning theories provide a framework for explaining and describing learning

Towards a Definition

• Learning is defined as a lasting change in human performance or potential, resulting from interaction with the environment (Driscoll, 1994).
• Learning is defined as a relatively permanent change in a person's knowledge or behaviour due to experience (Mayer, 1982).
• Learning is the process of acquiring new understanding, knowledge, behaviours, skills, values, attitudes, and preferences.

Types of Learning

• Cognitive Learning
• Behavioral Learning
• Social Learning
• Experiential Learning
• Self-directed Learning
• Situational Learning
• Constructivist Learning

Learning Theories

• Five main learning theories: Behaviorism, Cognitivism, Constructivism, Humanistic Theory, and Social Learning theory

Behaviorism Theory

• Proponents: Watson, Pavlov, Skinner
• Learning is the acquisition of new behaviour through conditioning.
• Learnt behaviour is observable
• Two types of conditioning: Classical Conditioning (Ivan Pavlov) and Operant Conditioning (B.F Skinner)

Assumptions of Behaviorism

• Environment influences behaviour
• Learning is described through stimuli and responses.
• Learning involves behavioural change.
• Learning results from close pairing of stimuli and responses

Classical Conditioning

• Proponent: Ivan Pavlov
• Principle: Association/pairing
• Pavlov's study: Dogs salivating to a bell (neutral stimulus) after it was repeatedly paired with food
• Neutral stimulus becomes conditioned stimulus eliciting the same response as the original stimulus
• Salivation response conditioned to happen when the bell rings

Operant Conditioning (The Skinner Box)

• Proponents: Thorndike & B.F Skinner
• Principle: Reinforcement and Punishment
• Organisms learn behaviours through rewards and/or punishments following the behaviour
• Positive reinforcement: Adding a reward to increase a behaviour (e.g., giving a treat for good behaviour)
• Negative reinforcement: Removing an unpleasant stimulus to increase a behavior (e.g., stopping punishment for good behavior)
• Punishment: Adding an unpleasant stimulus to decrease a behavior (e.g., giving a detention) or removing a positive stimulus to decrease a behaviour (e.g taking away a toy)

Reinforcement

• Reinforcement is a stimulus that strengthens the probability of a behaviour.
• Positive reinforcement = adding a rewarding stimulus
• Negative reinforcement = removing an aversive stimulus

Punishment

• Punishment is a consequence that decreases the likelihood of a behaviour.
• Positive punishment=Adding an unpleasent stimulus
• Negative punishment=Removing a rewarding stimulus

Cognitivism/Cognitive Learning Theory

• Proponents: Jean Piaget, Ausubel, Brunnel
• Learning is a change in knowledge stored in memory.
• Observable behaviour is an indication of what occurs in the learner's mind.
• Learning is the process by which individuals gain new knowledge and skills.
• The learner's cognitive processes (perception, thinking, memory and information processing) are significant in learning

Assumptions of Cognitivism

• Learning takes place whether or not there is observable behaviour change
• The key to learning is cognition
• Cognitive theorists believe teachers can produce learning by transferring information and helping learners organise it for recall

Sub-theories of Cognitive Theory

• Gestalt Perspective
• Information Processing

Gestalt Perspective

• Learning is directed towards simplicity, balance and regularity
• Perception is selective

Information Processing Theory

• Emphasizes thinking, reasoning, and storage of information.
• Stages: Attention, Processing, Memory Storage, and Action

Attention Phase (Information Processing)

• The first step in the cognitive learning process is attention.
• Students must pay attention to what they are experiencing.
• Limited attention span

Processing/Storage Phase (Information Processing)

• Sensory Register, Short Term Memory and Long Term Memory.
• Information moves from sensory register to short term memory if important or interesting
• Strategies needed to retain information in short term memory
• Short term memory has limited capacity
• Long term memory has unlimited capacity

Action Phase (Information Processing)

• The brain organizes information for later retrieval.

Humanistic Theory

• Proponents: Abraham Maslow, Carl Rogers, James F.T. Bugental
• Learners are inherently good and motivated to learn through their feelings
• Learners are self-motivated and make good decisions when their needs are met
• Learning is a continuous process through the fulfillment of other needs.
• Emphasizes freedom and autonomy (self-directed learning and choice).
• Perceieved utility of the knowledge to the learner
• Teachers promote a safe learning environment

Social Learning Theory

• Proponent: Albert Bandura
• Learning occurs through observation (watching others).
• Factors influencing learning: Personal characteristics of the learner; Behaviour patterns; the environment
• Key concepts: Role modelling, and Vicarious Reinforcement

Role Modelling

• Learners learn by copying the behaviours of role models
• Characteristics of effective role models: competence, prestige, and behaviour relevance.
• Types of role models: Live models, Symbolic models, Verbal instructions

Vicarious Reinforcement

• Learners determine their actions by observing the consequences of the model's behaviour.

Stages in the Learning Process

• Attentional phase, Retention phase, Reproduction phase, Motivational phase