Some notes on Gestalt learning theory
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Transcript of Some notes on Gestalt learning theory
Some notes on „Gestalt”
(This is in no way intended to constitute a proper introduction, but to accompany the selective discussion in class.)
10 February 2010
See also http://www.learningandteaching.info/learning/gestalt.htm and links from there.
Stimulus—Response
Stimulus—Organism—Response
Hard-line behaviouristsworked on the basis of relationship between
these two...
Hard-line behaviouristsworked on the basis of relationship between
these two...
From Skinner onwards there has been a recognition that
the Organism itself plays a critical role
From Skinner onwards there has been a recognition that
the Organism itself plays a critical role
And it is the study of the learning Organism
which takes centre stagein cognitive theories
And it is the study of the learning Organism
which takes centre stagein cognitive theories
Although actually pre-dating much behavioural theory, the first cognitive theory was „Gestalt”, associated with Wertheimer and his students Köhler and Koffka.
Some of the principles of Gestalt can be teased out through visual illusions...
Neckercube
This is just a two-dimensionalpattern—but you can’t see
it as such. It insists on being 3-d
This is just a two-dimensionalpattern—but you can’t see
it as such. It insists on being 3-d
Neckercube
More than that—is this face the front or the back?
More than that—is this face the front or the back?
Neckercube
Ditto this?Ditto this?
I didn’t use this one; it’s a great illusion, but what is the
teaching point?(Perhaps it is that the quality
of the illustration is not the point!
I didn’t use this one; it’s a great illusion, but what is the
teaching point?(Perhaps it is that the quality
of the illustration is not the point!
Faces orVase?
This is the classic “figure-ground” issue studied by the Gestalt
pioneers.
This is the classic “figure-ground” issue studied by the Gestalt
pioneers.
The appearance and disappearance of the black
dots may represent thebrain’s search for pattern...
The appearance and disappearance of the black
dots may represent thebrain’s search for pattern...
Which circle in the middle is bigger?
They’re both the same. (Measure them) But we are
influenced by context
They’re both the same. (Measure them) But we are
influenced by context
What is it?
Dog sniffingamong leaves
Old or young
woman?
Insistence onmostly likely
version
Which side is the light coming from?
See the note on the blog about this one (with video)See the note on the blog
about this one (with video)
Even when the parts
make sense, but the whole?
M C Escher, Waterfall, 1961.
Dolphins
Put up your hand up when you can see at least seven dolphins.
Children apparently getthis a lot faster than adults.
I wonder why?
Children apparently getthis a lot faster than adults.
I wonder why?
Brain insists on finding patterns
(„Gestalten”) wherever possible.
So it is not neutral and passive.
Cognitive Theories 1
If it ain't biological, behaviourist or humanist, it's cognitive.
It all starts with Gestalt theories [Wertheimer, Köhler and Koffka]: originally theories of perception, Gestalt moved into problem-solving learning.
Influenced by developmental psychology of Piaget (as amended), focusing on the maturational factors affecting understanding.
Broadly, cognitive theory is interested in how people understand material, and thus in;
aptitude and capacity to learn (thus fringing onto psychometrics and testing),
and learning styles (initially an honorable field of study, now exposed as not even wrong).
What arethey?
What arethey?
Ship arriving too late tosave a drowning witchShip arriving too late tosave a drowning witch
What arethey?
Worm wriggling acrossa razor blade
Worm wriggling acrossa razor blade
What arethey?
Koala climbing a treeKoala climbing a tree
OK, you got the others, But this a woman in a dressing-gown bendingdown to stroke her cat.
OK, you got the others, But this a woman in a dressing-gown bendingdown to stroke her cat.
Mild tension until everything “falls into place” (usually indicated by laughter)
Active mental work without behavioural action
Learning as problem-solving Not just confined to human beings
Learning curvesK
now
ledg
e/
skill
Time
Notional behavioural curve
The learning curve produced operant conditioning maylook something like this
The learning curve produced operant conditioning maylook something like this
Learning curve (2)K
now
ledg
e/
skill
Time
Notional behavioural curve
Notional Gestalt curve
“Ah-hah” or“knack”
This one includes a “step” (exaggerated here)
characteristic of a break-through or flash of insight
This one includes a “step” (exaggerated here)
characteristic of a break-through or flash of insight
Köhler’s chimps 1
Such insight may reasonablybe inferred to be
demonstrated by one ofKohler’s apes deliberatelypiling up boxes to get at
out-of-reach bananas
Such insight may reasonablybe inferred to be
demonstrated by one ofKohler’s apes deliberatelypiling up boxes to get at
out-of-reach bananas
Köhler’s chimps 2(1925)
Or this one, using shortersticks to get a longer one
to reach the fruit.
Or this one, using shortersticks to get a longer one
to reach the fruit.
Betty the crow
Or this New Caledonian Crow bending a wire intoa hook to fish food out of
a tumbler.
Search for Betty Crow videofor video
Or this New Caledonian Crow bending a wire intoa hook to fish food out of
a tumbler.
Search for Betty Crow videofor video
Can’t leave mind out of it. Mind makes meaning
Search for patterns („Gestalt”) “Trial and error” can take place in
a purely mental form So need to study mental
processes Development “Intelligence”
“Range of Convenience”Incremental skill acquisition
“Penny dropping”
Academic study
….
Behavioural ?
Gestalt ?
Cognitive ? ? …. What kind of theory is best
for illuminating whatkind of learning?
What kind of theory is bestfor illuminating what
kind of learning?
References and Links at http://www.bedspce.org.uk/mod2/2010/02/10-february-gestalt-etc.html
(c) James Atherton 2010