This weeks class was very interesting. I learnt alot. The lecturer basically covered the following questions, and more. I will now briefly discuss:
What is theory?
It is a model to clarify understanding based on years of observation and experimentation.
What is a model?
Model is a theoretical construct. It was experimented and designed. It is a mental picture that helps one understand something that cannot easily be observed or experienced directly.
Types of learning theories?
Behaviourism (Skinner, Pavlov)
Cognitism
Socialism learning
Constructivism
We also learnt about scaffolding. Lecturer mentioned that scaffolding is very important. Scaffolding is basically when we are building on content. For example when an educator can teach, he/she can reflect on his/her own approach. Teacher can later check how students grasped the information. In other words the educator check for understanding. Sometimes the educator would need to assist or intervene to submit a better end product.
We went over the following in detail.
Behaviourism:
This theory is based on a stimulus-response. If you pass a test, the student will be rewarded with a lolipop. In this theory we don't need to go into the mental functioning. Learner is seen as an empty vessel. Here the learner passively absorbs the information.
Positive reinforcement:
This involves stimulus that increases the likelihood of a particular response such as receiving a gold star for doing homework in class.
Negative reinforcement:
Increases the probability of the desired response. It can stop something that is a undesirable stimulus. It will lead to a positive outcome.
Punishment:
This is often confused with negative reinforcement, however punishment is used to erase undesirable behaviours by presenting a distressing stimulus when the behaviour occurs. For example (Paying a fine)
Cognitism:
This theory is teacher centered. It focus on cognition. Example: How the learner is thinking or absorbs the information. This theory revolves around: Analyzing, constructing and applying of information. Lecturer mentioned that this is important, because we will use it when we construct our own learning outcomes.This theory is intrinsically motivated. You have alot of knowledge already, which you have learnt outside school. You basically add to previously learnt information. The student is not clueless.
Vygotsky:
According to Vygotsky, children learn best in zone of proximal development. In that area they learn with the support and guidance of educator or teacher. Students learn quicker this way. This is a cognitive level where the childs problem solving ability develops.
Bloom's
The most comprehensive analysis of learning.
Levels 4-6 are considered higher level thinking skills. Here students are expected to apply knowledge to solve problems, and to create new knowledge.
The lecturer briefly mentioned:
Blooms taxonomy. Lower order thinking:
Remembering, Understanding, Applying, Analysing, Evaluating and Creating.
Social Learning:
This has nothing to do with skills, but belief. You learn from seeing what others do in a social context. Learning through observing/modelling what others do. Self efficacy: When individuals believe they are capable of performing learned behaviours.
Constructivism:
This theory is all about interaction. You cannot learn by sitting passively. Learning is an active agent, internalizing, reshaping or transforming information, and constructing meaning or understanding. Using constructivism utilises interactive teaching strategies to create meaningful context. Example: Role play, debating, allowing students to engage in real world activities like internships. Learning as experience- Problem Based Learning, scaffolding, inquiry and discovery learning. Knowledge is constructed based on personal eperiences. Learner is not a blank slate, but brings past experiences and cultural factors to a situation.
This covers in a nutshell what we covered in class. There is more, but we did not focus on that too much.
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