Mayssa: Theories of learning

Day 1

Task 2

2.1 What is learning?

Learning is often defined as a change in behavior (Birkenholz, 1999), which is demonstrated by people implementing knowledge, skills, or practices derived from education. As an end result, we know that learning occurs when people take newfound information and incorporate it into their life.

www.umsl.edu/technology/frc/DEID/destination2adultlearning/learning.pdf

I think that: Learning is a permanent change in behaviors brought about by experience.

2.2 Theories of learning:

* Behaviorism as a theory was most developed by B. F. Skinner. In essence, three basic assumptions are held to be true. First, learning is manifested by a change in behavior. Second, the environment shapes behavior. And third, the principles of contiguity and reinforcement.
This theory defines learning, which is the acquisition of new behavior through conditioning.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Learning_theory_(education)#Behaviorism

*Constructivism
is a theory of learning based on the idea that knowledge is constructed by the knower based on mental activity. Also Constructivism is a philosophy of learning founded on the premise that, by reflecting on our experiences. This theory defines learning, which is simply the process of adjusting our mental models to accommodate new experiences.

http://www.usask.ca/education/coursework/802papers/Skaalid/definition.html

http://www.funderstanding.com/content/constructivism

* "Cognitive theorists recognize that much learning involves associations established through contiguity and repetition.

http://port.inst.uhcl.edu/LarsenM/INST5131PhilosophyInstructdesign.doc.

* Brain-based learning this learning theory is based on the structure and function of the brain.

http://www.funderstanding.com/content/brain-based-learning

2.3 Bloom's Taxonomy

Benjamin Bloom developed, in the 1956 while working at the University of Chicago, developed his theory on Educational Objectives. He proposed 3 domains or areas:

Cognitive - person's ability to process and utilize information (thinking), this is what Bloom's Taxonomy is based on
Affective - This is the role of feeling and attitudes in the learning/education process
Psychomotor - This is manipulative or physical skills

Bloom's Taxonomy is taxonomy of activities and behaviors' that exemplify higher order thinking skills (HOTS) and lower order thinking skills (LOTS). Bloom's allows use to rank and structure different classroom activities and plan the learning process. In the 2001, Lorin Anderson and other revised Bloom's original work to give use Bloom's Revised Taxonomy.

Bloom's Original taxonomy	Bloom's revised taxonomy
Evaluation	Creating
Synthesis	Evaluating
Analysis	Analyzing
Application	Applying
Comprehension	Understanding
Knowledge	Remembering