Psychological Bases of Learning

Psychological Bases of Learning

• Educational POV: Learning is a process to modify behavior
• Psychological POV: Learning is the most appropriate response to a stimulus

Basics of Learning Psychology

• It is a dynamic process
• Results in a change in behaviour or knowledge
• Influenced and shaped by experiences
• Classical Conditioning (Learning by Association)
  • Learning when a neutral stimulus becomes associated with a stimulus
  • Stimulus naturally produces a behavior
• Operant Conditioning (Instrumental/Skinnerian Conditioning)
  • Method of learning which uses rewards and punishment to modify behaviour
  • Behavior that is rewarded is likely to be repeated
  • Behavior that is punished is prone to less happening
• Observational Learning - learning by observing others

Principles of Classical Conditioning

• Acquisition
  • The initial stage of learning
  • Response is associated with particular stimulus to the point where the organism has "acquired" the response
  • Parrot repeats specific words each time the doorbell rings
  • Whenever it hears a bell, it repeats those words
• Extinction
  • Conditioned response decreases or disappears
  • Happens when a conditioned stimulus is no longer paired with an unconditioned stimulus
  • If a doorbell is replaced with knocking on the door, the parrot forgets how to respond to the doorbell after 4-6 months
• Spontaneous Recovery
  • The reappearance of the conditioned response after a rest period
  • Doorbell starts ringing again, and the parrot is told to repeat the words each time the bell rings
  • The parrot again acquires the response
• Stimulus Generalization
  • Act of responding to a stimulus similar to, but distinct from, the conditioned stimulus
• Discrimination
  • The ability to differentiate between a conditioned stimulus and other stimuli
  • Stimuli that have not been paired with an unconditioned stimulus

Cognitive Learning

• Schema Theory
  • People organize knowledge into schemas, called Schema Theory
• Information Processing Model
  • Learning involves:
    • Taking in information (encoding)
    • Storing it (storage)
    • Retrieving it (retrieval), otherwise called the Information Processing Model

Laws of Learning (Edward Thorndike)

• These laws of learning describe how learning occurs and how it can be optimized
• Law of Readiness
  • The degree of willingness and eagerness of an individual to learn
  • A student who is curious about plant growth will be more engaged
  • They will learn better during a science lesson on photosynthesis
  • If the student is not interested or mentally prepared, learning is harder
• Law of Exercise
  • The more frequently a stimulus and response are associated, the more likely the response follows the stimulus
  • A student memorising multiplications tables becomes faster through daily practice
  • If they stop, there is a chance they may forget over time
• Law of Effect
  • Responses that produce a satisfying results after a particular stimulus are likely to occur again
  • Responses that produce a discomforting effect after a stimulus are less likely to occur again
  • A student answers a question correctly
  • Teacher responds with praise and encourgaement
  • The student is likely to participate again
• Law of Multiple Response
  • When confronted with a new learning situation, the learner responds in a variety of ways before getting the correct response
  • Example: A student trying to solve a math problem with different formulas or approaches until the correct results are generated
• Law of Attitude
  • The learner performs a task well if they have their attitude set on that task
  • A student who believes that they are bad at math, will struggle more because of their negative self-perception
• Law of Prepotency
  • The learner uses insight, selects the proponent elements in a situation, and bases responses upon these elements
  • This focuses on the most important relevant aspects
  • Example: When reading a passage, a student focuses on key terms related to the question, rather than unrelated background details
• Law of Response by Analogy
  • The learner responds to a new learning situation based on the response made in similar situations

Application of the Laws of Learning in Education

• Create a positive learning atmosphere using related effect law
  • Student learn better when classroom environment is encouraging and rewarding.
  • Praising student efforts and celebrating progress makes them more motivated to participate
• How to Overcome the fear of subject is based on readiness and exercise law
  • Addressing students’ anxiety and preparing them mentally helps them engage with difficult subjects.
  • Breaking down math problems into smaller steps and allowing repeated practice builds confidence
• How to Reinforce using the law of effect
  • Positive reinforcement (praise or rewards) encourages repeated behavior.
  • Giving stickers or points for correct answers motivates students to keep trying
• How to Shape behavior using law of response
  • Gradually guiding students toward the desired behavior by reinforcing small steps.
  • Example: A student who struggles with class participation can be encouraged for simply raising their hands, then for answering
• How to Model using law of response
  • Students learn by observing and imitating teachers or peers.
  • Example: A teacher demonstrates how to give a group presentation, and students can follow that example in groups
• How to Group work and Teamwork using multiple responses and attitude
  • Working with peers allows students to explore different approaches and develop social learning altitudes. Example: During group activities, students learn to cooperate, listen, and solve problems together

Factors That Affect Learning Process

• Learner-related factors
  • Motivation: Highly motivated students are more engaged and persistent in learning tasks
    • Example: A student who wants to become a doctor studies science subjects with enthusiasm
  • Prior Knowledge: Can influence how students understand new concepts
    • Example: A student who knows basic grammar will grasp sentence construction more easily
  • Learning Styles: Each student may prefer different modes of learning—visual, auditory, kinesthetic
    • Example: A visual learner understands better through diagrams and videos
  • Personality Traits: Traits like self-discipline, curiosity, or anxiety levels
    • Example: A confident student may participate more actively, leading to deeper learning
• Teacher-related factors
  • Teaching Methods: Strategies used affect the learning experience
    • Active learning methods compared to purely lecture based approaches can boost engagement
  • Teacher-student relationship Positive, respectful relationships
    • Creates a safe and open space for the students to learn
    • Example: Students are more open to asking questions when they feel respected by their teacher
  • Feedback: This helps students recognize their strengths and areas for improvement
    • Example: Personalized comments on essays guide students how to perform and write better next time
• Environmental Factors:
  • Example: A well-lit, quiet classroom promotes concentration
  • Social Support
  • Encouragement from peers through family, mentors boosts confidence and perserverence
  • Example: Parents who show interest in schoolwork can increase a child’s academic motivation
    • Example: Educational apps help reinforce math skills outside the classroom