Theories of Learning & Brain Development, Week 1

Education: How People Learn - Week One Summary

• Learning involves definition and various types of changes
• Principles compared to theories of learning highlights the importance of theories
• A conceptual framework of learning theories and their evolution exists
• MacLean’s Triune Brain describes the evolution of the brain
• There is the Central vs. Peripheral Nervous Systems
• Neurons and synapses have natures and functions
• Key phenomena include synaptogenesis, synaptic pruning, myelination, sensitive/critical periods, plasticity, and experience-expectant and -dependent learning.

Conceptual Framework: Evolution of Learning Theories

• Evolution of learning theories moves from behaviourism (learning like an animal) to cognitivism (learning like a machine)
• This continues to constructivism (learning like a human) and connectivism/transhumanism (learning like a cyborg)
• Cognitive neuroscience is a factor
• Behaviorism involves environment (British Empiricism) learning as a function of contingencies (reinforcers and punishers)
• Classical and Operant Conditioning is a factor of behaviorism
• Social Learning Theory and Social Cognitive Theory are social constructs
• Cognitivism is Continental Rationalism learning with innate structures and internal processes
• Information Processing Theories is a factor of cognitivism.
• Psychological Constructivism and Social Contructivism are considerations

Principles: Definitions & Examples

• "Established relationship between factors" is a principle
• Thorndike’s Principle states behavior followed by a satisfying state increases in frequency
• Thorndike’s Law of Effect states responses followed by satisfaction are strengthened, while discomfort weakens them.

Theory Definition

• Theory is an "integrated statement of principles to explain a phenomenon and make predictions"
• Principles only combine two interacted things
• Theories can combine more principles

Pros and Cons for Theory

• Pros: Theories provide a framework for understanding behavior and generate new research
• Cons: No single theory explains everything; theories can bias knowledge construction/dissemination

Practice in Theory

• Understanding learning theories enhances self-awareness, motivation, and teaching effectiveness
• Theory applies to common features rather than benefiting individuals

Three Key Learning Outcomes

• Understanding learning theories/defining key terms/principles is important
• Describing cognitive, behavioral, social and situational factors in learning is important
• Understanding how individuals learn best and improve is a key learning outcome

What is Learning?

• Learning is defined as a relatively permanent change in an organism resulting from experience

Learning as Change

• Learning can be viewed as a fundamental process of change

Brain Development: MacLean’s Triune Brain

• Reptilian Brain (R-Complex) is the first brain involving the hindbrain and reptilian complex
• Paleo-Mammalian Brain is the second brain involving the midbrain and limbic system
• Neo-Mammalian Brain is the third brain involving the forebrain and neocortex
• Reptilian Brain controls survival functions and physical instincts
• Paleo-Mammalian Brain is responsible for emotions, memory, and social bonding
• Neo-Mammalian Brain allows complex thinking, self-awareness, advanced communication and high function of cognition
• The Neo-Mammalian Brain distinguishes humans from other mammals

The First Brain

• The first brain is located at the center and consisting of the oldest parts is the brain
• It drives basic needs and instincts, like body temperature, hunger, and fight-or-flight responses

The Second Brain

• The second brain is wrapped around the R-Complex
• It consists of the next oldest parts of the brain, which are our feelings, memory, recall, and emotional/hormonal control

The Third Brain

• The third brain is wrapped around the Second Brain
• It consists of the newest parts of the brain like Frontal/Temporal/Parietal/Occipital Lobes
• It drives language, problem-solving, complex social skills, and higher-order cognitive processes

Neurons

• The average human brain has over 100 billion neurons, connected to 10,000+ other cells, equaling 1,000 trillion connections
• The anatomical parts are- Cell body is a spherical part which contains the nucleus (soma)
• Neurotransmitters are the chemicals that carry messages between neurons
• Dendrites include branchlike structures that receive messages from other neurons
• An Axon is an arm-like structure that transmits information to other neurons

Synapse

• A synapse is a gap between two neurons that allows transmission of messages

Neurotransmitters

• Inhibitory (Calming) Neurotransmitters are mainly GABA and serotonin, that "cool" the CNS
• Excitatory (Stimulating) Neurotransmitters are mainly dopamine and norepinephrine, which “heat up" the CNS

Factors Affecting Brain Development: Nature and Nuture

• Genes (Nature) are “Discrete Units of Inheritance”
• Enriched environments (Nurture) result in heavier, more active brains with more connections
• Humans need a stimulating environment for optimal development

Nuture

• Plasticity is the brain’s ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections throughout life
• Experience-expectant powers fine-tune from conception
• Experience-dependent powers involve emergence of unique skills
• Nutrition is critical during the 10th to 18th weeks of fetal development
• Malnutrition impairs neurotransmitter flow
• Teratogens are foreign substances causing abnormalities like lead, alcohol, and Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)

Synaptogenesis

• Receiving significant amounts of time, attention, practice and having important emotional, personal, and survival connections develop synaptogensis
• Synaptic Pruning is the weakening/degeneration of synaptic connections

Critical or Sensitive Periods

• Critical Period is a specific window where certain experiences are necessary for brain/cognitive development
• Sensitive/Optimal Period is a window when the brain is particularly sensitive to environmental influences

My-e-lin

• Myelin is a fatty substance that speeds up neural transmissions during Myelin Development (age related myelination)
• Hand-eye coordination isn't complete until four years of age
• Focusing attention isn't complete until 10 years of age
• Thinking and reasoning isn't complete until late adolescence/early adulthood
• Demyelination includes Neurodegenerative Autoimmune Diseases Multiple Sclerosis, Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis, and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

Alcohol and pollution

• Alcohol and Pollution both negatively impact brain development

The correlation with words from parents in childhood

• More words addressed to the child results with higher social class children acquire in the future