...The learning theories implicit in the way the units are presented and developed Learning theories place the emphasis on nurturing the individual and the ability of teachers to facilitate the learning that people do. Educational and learning theories have been in existence since at least the 16th Century when John Comenius (1592 – 1670) (sometimes known as Komensky) developed his ideas about education being not just for children but lifelong. He was also one of the first educators to encourage the education of women, (Pound, 2005). Theories serve as bridges between research and educational practices and as tools to organize and translate research findings into recommendations for educational practice. Behaviorism Behavioral theories stress the role of the environment-specifically , how stimuli are arranged and presented and how responses are reinforced .these theories assign less importance to learner differences than do cognitive theories .Within the overall theory of behaviourism are a number of sub-groups two of which are Connectivism and Conditioning . Edward Thorndike (1874 – 1949) was one of the main advocates of ‘Connectivism’. Through his research he came to the view that how humans and animals behave is all about stimulus and response.Thorndike believed that learning occurred through trial and error. This led him to the view that there are two laws that relate to learning. These are the laws of Exercise and Effect, (Schunk, 2004). Skinner termed his view of behaviourism...
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...Cognitive Effort and Skill Acquisition According to Newell (1991), “the information processing and cognitive frameworks have had considerable impact on concepts of motor skill acquisition domain over the last two decades.” However, some researchers have found out that “these influences have been indirect.” For what we call, the information processing approach, it “has been concerned primarily with performance, not learning and has emphasized the processes that support performance.” Moreover, “only the attentional accounts of skill learning have treated issues of direct relevance to the changes that occur with practice.” The focus on this field “has been on the how of information processing, with no direct examination of the informational support...
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...Teachers. This article provides a proposed constructivist pedagogy for the Vocational Technology studies. Though I do not consider myself to be a strict- constructivist teacher, when I compared my educational philosophy to this proposed pedagogy, I realized how much the study of constructivist theory and practice had influenced my beliefs and methods of instruction. As a future Technology Education educator, I applied these constructivist principles to my own teaching style and methods. A Constructivist Pedagogy for Career and Technology Education The National Association of State Directors of Career Technical Education Consortium states: “career studies should be taught in manners that are consistent with a constructivist view of learning” (NASDCTEC, 1999, p. 7). While this may sound good in theory, one underlying problem exists: the lack of a clearly defined, agreed-upon constructivist pedagogy. This article will (1) explore the definition and variations of constructivist theory, (2) present a pedagogy for constructivist teachers of career and technology studies, and (3) compare and relate those pedagogies to the existing standards for powerful career and technology studies as defined by the NASDCTEC. “Constructivism is a topic on the conference programs of virtually all prominent national educational organizations and has been widely described and analyzed in professional journals” (Brooks, 1999). Constructivist theory has been presented in a variety of contexts...
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...Cognitive Theorist – Jean Piaget Terry Cross University of Phoenix 10/17/2014 Contribution of the theorist in the field of learning Jean Piaget was one of the pioneer psychologists who concentrated on the systematic analysis of cognitive development. Jean Piaget contributed in the field of learning by developing a theory of cognitive development in children. His detailed and close observational studies of children’s cognition in addition to administering ingenious tests to children revealed varying cognitive abilities. Piaget’s drive to study the cognitive development in children was informed by the psychological assumption that children have reduced or less thinking competency that adults. As such, Piaget made observations that children have a different mode of thinking compared to adult members of the society. Piaget established that children have innate and basic genetically inherited and evolved mental structures upon which later knowledge and learning stems from (Piaget, 1936). The cognitive theory developed by Piaget contributes to the understanding of cognitive development in children. Cognitive development theory by Piaget concentrates more on the cognitive development and does not argue about learning and acquiring information on given behaviors. Cognitive theory details elaborate stages of cognitive development that differ from one another. As such, the cognitive theory contributes to the field of cognition by explaining processes and systems by...
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...Cognitive Theorist – Jean Piaget Terry Cross University of Phoenix 10/17/2014 Contribution of the theorist in the field of learning Jean Piaget was one of the pioneer psychologists who concentrated on the systematic analysis of cognitive development. Jean Piaget contributed in the field of learning by developing a theory of cognitive development in children. His detailed and close observational studies of children’s cognition in addition to administering ingenious tests to children revealed varying cognitive abilities. Piaget’s drive to study the cognitive development in children was informed by the psychological assumption that children have reduced or less thinking competency that adults. As such, Piaget made observations that children have a different mode of thinking compared to adult members of the society. Piaget established that children have innate and basic genetically inherited and evolved mental structures upon which later knowledge and learning stems from (Piaget, 1936). The cognitive theory developed by Piaget contributes to the understanding of cognitive development in children. Cognitive development theory by Piaget concentrates more on the cognitive development and does not argue about learning and acquiring information on given behaviors. Cognitive theory details elaborate stages of cognitive development that differ from one another. As such, the cognitive theory contributes to the field of cognition by explaining processes and systems by...
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...11/21/2012 | Submitted to: Mrs. Maria Hutchinson Submitted by: Roger Polanco Introduction to Counseling and Guidance Research On Cognitive and Behavioral Approaches Similarities and differences In psychology many approaches have been discovered and some are still currently in use. There are two approaches, which I feel have much similarities but also differences. I will be explaining the cognitive and behavioral approach. Cognition literally means, “Knowing”. In other words, psychologists from this approach study cognition, which is A ‘the mental act or process by which knowledge is acquired.’ They focus on the way human’s process information, looking at how we treat information that comes in to the person (stimuli) and how this treatment leads to responses. In other words, they are interested in the variables that mediate between stimulus/input and response/output. The main areas of study in cognitive psychology are: perception, attention, memory and language. The essence of the behavioral approach is the statement that all behavior is learned and that when we are born we are like a blank slate. Experience and interactions with the environment make us what we are. We become what we become as a result of forming stimulus-response units of behavior in reaction to the environment. This perspective has been called environmental determinism because it suggests that the environments in which we exist determine us. The second statement is that all behavior can be explained...
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...Applying Learning Theories Identifying The Components of Cognitivist Theories used in, "Kermit and The Keyboard." Abstract Cognitivism emphasizes on the explanation of cognitive structures and process, and the intervention of these structures and processes between instruction and learning (Glaserfeld, 1989). The study of cognitivism has allowed for educators, theorist and psychologist to understand the concepts of knowing, thinking and formulating feedback. In reviewing the sample texture, "Kermit and the Keyboard," has allowed for philosophers and psychologist to review the interactional theories of learning process. Within this paper, will identify, compare and contrast the views of congnitivist theories, Cognitive Information Processing (CIP), Piaget's Theory and Perspective of Interactional Theories of Cognitive Development as it relates to the sample text. The essence of utilizing cognitivist learning theories allows for educators such as myself to capture the meaning of cognitive and knowledge development within the classroom setting. Identifying The Components of Cognitivist Theories used in, "Kermit and The Keyboard." The developmental concept of learning theories allows for people to inquire the fundamentals of human engagement. The core concepts of learning has allowed for philosophers and psychologist to examine the nature of learning in applying those concepts in expanding the intellectual contents of human thinking. Educators and other learning theorist...
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...influenced by the time in history and the society in which they develop? 2. Which developmental theories are most compatible with your intuitions about development? Two Controversial Issues 1. Are children active or passive in their development? The Organismic (active) view suggests development is internally initiated and occurs in a sequence of qualitatively different stages. It views development as bi-directional. The Mechanistic (passive) view suggests development is a passive predictable response to stimuli. 2. Is development continuous or does it occur in stages? Continuity or Discontinuity. The organismic approach emphasizes qualitative changes (discontinuous), while the mechanistic approach emphasizes quantitative changes (continuous). What is a theory? Definitions: A theory is a systematic formulation of principles explaining behaviour. It is a coherent set of logically related concepts that seeks to organize, describe, explain and predict data (p.22). Five broad theoretical perspectives: (p. 24/25) 1. Psychoanalytic 2. Learning 3. Cognitive 4. Contextual 5. Evolutionary/Sociobiological 1. Psychoanalytic theory The psychoanalytic perspective views development as shaped by unconscious forces that motivate human behaviour. Freud’s psychosexual theory (p.23-25) Freud believed that people are born with biological drives that must be controlled to make it possible to live in society. He proposed three hypothetical parts of...
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...American InterContinental University Abstract Three different cognitivist approaches to the story Kermit and the Keyboard are presented in Driscoll’s Psychology of Learning for Instruction (2005). Cognitive Information Processing, Piagetian Theory, and Interactional Theories of Cognitive Development are the three perspectives given on how Kermit learns to play the keyboard. These theories have similarities as well as divergent views on development. Kermit and the Keyboard from a Cognitivist Perspective Cognitive Information Processing, Piagetian Theory, and Interactional Theories of Cognitive Development explored the principles associated with human cognitive development in relationship to learning. Driscoll points out that these theories Cognitive Information Processing, Piagetian Theory, and Interactional Theories of Cognitive Development “have common focuses on interaction between children’s native capabilities and their environment to explain development”(2005). However, they represent divergent views when it comes to explaining why. These similarities and differences are evident in their perspectives on Kermit and the Keyboard as well. Cognitive Information Processing (CIP) Information processing approach focuses on the study of the structure and function of mental processing. Cognitive Information Processing (CIP) is based on the work of Atkinson and Shriffin and proposes that information is processed and stored in three stages; Sensory memory, Short term...
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...critical evaluation of three different perspectives from the psychological approaches within psychology. The Humanistic approach being the first to be evaluated with a brief description then the Cognitive approach is described and evaluated. The last approach to be described and evaluated was the Behaviourist. Three approaches will have pros and cons within the evaluation given Humanism is a psychological approach that emphasises on the study of the whole person. Humanistic psychologists look at human behaviour not only through the eyes of the observer, but also through the eyes of the person doing the behaviour. Yet, they also believe that an individual’s behaviour is connected to their inner feelings. However, the Humanistic approach was developed as a rebellion against what some psychologists saw as limitations of the behaviourist and psychodynamics approaches within psychology. Therefore, this approach is often called the “third force” in psychology after psychoanalysis and behaviourism. One of the leading humanistic psychologist, Carl Rogers, was trained as a psychoanalyst and a leading therapist (Saul McLeod, 2007). Humanistic psychologists believe, that people have free will and are capable of choosing their own actions, although they may not realise this. They also take the view that people also have a tendency towards growth and fulfilment of their own potential (Sammons, 2011) The humanistic approach promotes a positive image of human being and the human condition the...
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...theories of learning Learning is defined as a process that brings together personal and environmental experiences and influences for acquiring, enriching or modifying one’s knowledge, skills, values, attitudes, behaviour and world views. Learning theories develop hypotheses that describe how this process takes place. The scientific study of learning started in earnest at the dawn of the 20th century. The major concepts and theories of learning include behaviourist theories, cognitive psychology, constructivism, social constructivism, experiential learning, multiple intelligence, and situated learning theory and community of practice. Behaviourism The behaviourist perspectives of learning originated in the early 1900s, and became dominant in early 20th century. The basic idea of behaviourism is that learning consists of a change in behaviour due to the acquisition, reinforcement and application of associations between stimuli from the environment and observable responses of the individual. Behaviourists are interested in measurable changes in behaviour. Thorndike, one major behaviourist theorist, put forward that (1) a response to a stimulus is reinforced when followed by a positive rewarding effect, and (2) a response to a stimulus becomes stronger by exercise and repetition. This view of learning is akin to the “drill-and-practice” programmes. Skinner, another influential behaviourist, proposed his variant of behaviourism called “operant conditioning”. In his view, rewarding...
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...Running Head: LEARNING THEORIES Research Paper: Learning Theories Name Psychology of Learning Learning Theories From the beginning of life, learning is a natural process and continues through humankind’s lifespan. There seems to be an inherent encoding structure from birth seeking to discover new information that invokes learning which empowers one’s ability to adapt to different patterns of behavior. For years various theories have been introduced to explain how people learn. Learning can and does occur in a variety of methods. People may deem learning as experiences that become embedded into their memory having lasting effects. Others may think of learning as how they acquire new information and their ability to apply memory that has been stored overtime. While learning has often been defined in many ways, the basic element in the learning process is how people acquire knowledge and how it is maintained to produce changes in behavior. Learning is the fundamental nature of human functioning. This reflective paper presents a broad scope of theoretical concepts from Gregory Kimble, B.F. Skinner and Jean Piaget. The central focus of this paper is aspects of Albert Bandura’s observational, social learning and social cognitive theories; Bandura’s contributions to psychology; his critics and my personal response to Bandura’s theories. Introduction Many theories throughout the years...
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...Human Development & Learning FHT 4 601.2.1-02 During the last few decades, psychologists have put forth many theories regarding cognitive development, especially as it relates to education. Two that I feel align most with my own ideas of how children best learn are the theories of Jean Piaget and Lev S. Vygotsky. They both developed theories that have been accepted throughout the educational arena, and in fact are still taught in education classes to today. They strived to learn and understand the best way, the best age, and the best environment for children to develop their cognitive ability. Before we discuss their theories we first need to define cognitive development. The literal meaning of cognition is “knowing,” defined as the “mental act or process by which knowledge is acquired” (Mcleod, 2007), and development is defined as “orderly and lasting growth, adaptation, and change over the course of a lifetime” (Slavin, 2009, p30). To simplify cognitive development means the acquisition of knowledge that grows, and lasts throughout a life span. Before cognitive development can take place, there must be cognitive learning. Cognitive learning is the process of acquiring knowledge for processing. The acquired knowledge is processed by our brain into higher thinking skills in a, “a series of gradual, orderly changes by which mental processes become more complex and sophisticated.” That is cognitive development, (Slavin, 2009, p31). The first stage...
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...The Role of Heredity and Environment in Learning Theory The role of heredity and environment in the learning theory is one with varying views. Each view relies strongly on the developmental process of children. Urie Bronfenbrenner posits that a child’s environment plays the biggest role in the child’s development and learning experience (Ormrod, 2014). While Jean Piaget and Lev Vygotsky believe that a child’s cognitive development is most important to the learning experience (Ormrod, 2014). The purpose of this essay is to explore each of these theories and how they apply to my personal knowledge and understanding of the learning experience. I will begin with an overview of each theory and then move to how aspects of each apply to personal experiences and beliefs. Ultimately coming to the conclusion that no single theory fully represents my understanding of learning. While each theory as many strengths, one cannot have a fully developed understanding of the learning process without aspects of all three theories. According to Ormrod (2014), Bronfenbrenner’s theory of development relies strongly on the “multiple layers of environmental influence” (p. 21). At the most basic level is the child’s family, next is the child’s neighborhood and community, and finally the child’s state and country (Ormrod, 2014). Bronfenbrenner believed that the child’s culture played a significate role in effecting the child’s development in every layer. Furthermore, these layers interact with...
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...Piaget’s Stages of Cognitive Development Jean Piaget is a Swiss developmental psychologist and philosopher known for his epistemological studies with children. Piaget believed that children play an active role in the growth of intelligence. He regarded children as philosophers who perceive the world as he or she experiences it (ICELS). Therefore in Piaget’s most prominent work, his theory on the four stages of cognitive development, much of his inspiration came from observations of children. The theory of cognitive development focuses on mental processes such as perceiving, remembering, believing, and reasoning. Through his work, Piaget showed that children think in considerably different ways than adults do and as such he saw cognitive development as a progressive reorganization of mental processes resulting from maturation and experience (1973). To explain this theory, Piaget used the concept of stages to describe his development as a sequence of the four following stages: sensory – motor, preoperational, concrete operations, and formal operations. There are three elements however to understanding his theory of cognitive development. They are schema, the fours process that enable transition from on stage to another, and finally the four stages themselves. He began his studies by making naturalistic observations. Piaget made careful, detailed observations of children, typically his own children or their friends, from these he wrote diary descriptions charting their development...
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