Lecture 4 and 5Looking at Learning from Learning to teachingCremin, 2010

What is learning?

What is your experience regarding learning?

When do you say/feel that you have learned something?

Definition of learning

“Learning is an enduring change in behavior or the capacity to

behave in a given fashion which result from practice or other

forms of experience.” (Schunk, 2004)

Learning is so simple that we don’t question its

presence, but if we were to think about it…

Is learning something tangible and

observable or is it a hidden process

happening behind scenes?

Are we able to achieve it on our own or

do we need others?

Characteristics of learning

Modification from the old behavior to the new one.

Change in behavior over time. So it is not temporary behavior; it lasts for ever. * that is the kind of learning you want your students have.

Learning occurs through practice. Learning also occurs through

observation.

Learning Theories

How do we learn as human?There are four popular theories that

explain human learning:1. Behaviorism Theory 2. Social Cognitive Theory3. Constructivism Theory4. Cognitive Development Theory

Behavriosim

Learning is an acquisition of a new behavior.

Mental processes are not necessary to explain acquisition and generalization of behavior/ learning.

Practice is a key to strengthen the desired behavior.

Stimulation and reinforcement are important factors in in learning and maintaining the desired behavior.

Schunk, 2004

Implications for the behaviourism theory

Behaviourist method of teaching includes a lot of

repetitions; question and answer sequence,

positive reinforcement and this method rely on

tests and examinations as an observable

behaviours measure.

Arhur, Cremin, 2010

Social Cognitive theory

Social cognitive theory stresses on the idea that much of human learning occurs in a social environment.

Learning is done by observing others. Students acquire knowledge, rules ,skills, strategies, beliefs, and attitude by observing others.

Individual also learns from models (teachers). The usefulness and appropriateness of behaviors, and the consequences of the modeled behaviors affect our decision to perform the acquired behavior.

Schunk, 2004

Implication:

Social constructivist method uses collaborative learning, which includes helping learners to develop teamwork skills, using discussions guided by directed questions and using strategies like modelling and scaffolding = assisting= guiding.

Piaget’ Theory of Cognitive Development

According to Piaget, children come into the world with minimal equipments to guide their behavior. Their cognitive development passed through sequences of stages dependent on the preceding one. In each stage, children view the world differently.

Implication: The role of the educator is to set up an environment in which help stimulate their development and growth that is suitable to their level or stage.

Schunk, 2004

Constructivism

What we already know determines what will we learn. *Therefore, each one of you will have different understanding of what I talked about in this lecture. I depends on your background knowledge of today’s topic

*New learning is dependent on old knowledge.

Application

Constructivist method of teaching includes assisting learners in constructing new information into existing knowledge by providing them with strategies that would help them accommodate new materials.

Now, you might ask yourself how the psychological theories are related to teaching and curriculum?

More specific, how and why these theories are helpful for primary teacher to know about?

All These thoughts and questions are good questions. How?

To answer your questions, let us read the following scenario taking from Soltis Book (Perspective on Learning)(1998) and try to understand and suggest answers to the question stated in the scenario.

Imagine the following scenario:Four of your friends want a favor from you. One wants to learn to keep off junk food and

seeks your advice and encouragements. The second one is trying to learn Spanish

vocabulary and ask you to act as a tutor. The third wants your help in learning how to do

public speech because you are good at it. The forth one is stuck on Einstein’s Theory and

asks you to explain it to her.Kindly, YOU agreed to help all of them

HOW? (From Phillips, Soltis book

(1998)

In group, please discuss the problem each of your friend have. ( what kind of problem is it?)

The answer

Because you are not only promoting learning, but you also as a teacher is motivating students, catering for different learning style and abilities, deciding the content, and socializing your students to become good citizens for their country.

I will Leave you with this YouTube clip to think about and reflect on

References

Learning to Teach in the Primary School. Arthur& Cremin,2010. 2nd edition. Routledge: Taylor & Francis Group, London

Palincsar, A. and Brown, A. (1984) ‘Reciprocal teaching of comprehension- fostering and comprehension- monitoring activities’, Cognition and Instruction, 1(2): 117-75.

Next Week

Managing Classroom Behavior:

Organizing effective classroom talk

p, 129-158