BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN SOCIAL WORK
(Prelim)
Name of Student:__________________________ Year/Section:___________________
Subject: SW Com Ed & Training
MODULE No. M-02
TITLE: Topic: Learning Theories
Overview/ Introduction:
Learning Objectives: At the end of the lesson, the students will be able to
identify various perspectives, theories, principles, and
concepts on community education and training.
Discussion
What is Learning?
Learning is a lifelong process by which behaviour is changed, shaped or controlled
where one gains knowledge or skill through study, teaching or instruction and further
enhanced by practice and experience.
Learning is both a process and a product.
Process of Learning
Learning involves the individual
Brain - motivations
Body - interests
Learning involves others
Dyads - learning facilitators/ teachers
Families/ Groups - Organizations
Communities - Society
Learning takes place somewhere
In physical environment
With things and tools
Learning occurs over time
Products of Learning
Learning is about ideas and concepts
Learning is about behaviors and skills
Learning is about attitudes and values
What is a theory?
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A theory provides a general explanation for observations made over time.
A theory explains and predicts behavior.
A theory may be modified.
Theories seldom have to be thrown out completely if thoroughly tested but sometimes a
theory may be widely accepted for a long time and later disproved.
What is a Learning Theory
Organized set of principles explaining how individuals acquire, retain, recall and
apply knowledge.
Learning theories provide explanation how learning occurs.
The principles can be used as guide in the selection of instructional tools, techniques
and strategies that promote learning.
Broad domains of theories
Behaviorism
Cognitivism
Constructivism
How did we get to this point?
Where can truth and knowledge be found?
A bit of history…
Plato
Truth is found within ourselves (rationalist)
Ideas do not belong to the actual world: They are too perfect (e.g., one’s
conception of triangles or circles). They belong to the REAL world, in which
ideas
are eternal and flawless.
Knowledge: innate - in place at birth
Knowledge is “drawn out” when teacher asks questions; - help students recall
fundamental insights they possess (self reflection)
Learning passive process
Aristotle
Truth is found outside of ourselves using our senses (Empiricist) Developed a
scientific
method of gathering data to study the world around him.
“There’s nothing in the intellect that wasn’t previously in the senses”
John Locke
Plato is wrong, Aristotle is right.
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“Tabula rasa” or “blank slate” theory of learning.
“Let us then suppose the mind to be … white paper, void of all characters, without any
ideas. How comes it to be furnished? Whence comes it by that vast store, which the
busy and boundless fancy of man has painted on it with an almost endless variety?
Whence has it all the materials of reason and knowledge? To this I answer, in one word,
from experience. In that all our knowledge is founded; and from that it ultimately
derives itself.”
Enter world devoid of content but with biologically preformed capacities & processes.
Immediately experience environment through senses.
“Simple ideas” remembered and built upon by “internal” phenomena (concentration,
puzzlement, etc.).
Simple ideas were not invented; child must have experience to develop & all complex
ideas trace back to combinations of simple ideas.
Learner still passive; experience happens to learner rather than learner engaging in it,
even perhaps creating it.
Our beliefs about the nature of knowledge (our epistemology), profoundly influence our
approach to education.
Our beliefs about how people learn (our psychology of learning), profoundly influence
our approach to education.
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Epistemology – Theory - Practice - all these three need to be aligned
Our beliefs about knowledge
Our beliefs about learning
Our strategies for practice
Learning theories as glasses
What would the world look like as viewed through the lens of:
Plato (rationalist)
Aristotle (empiricist)
Locke (tabula rasa)
Behaviorism Theory
School of thought that seeks to measure only observable behaviors
Learning is a change in behavior.
Explains learning in terms of environmental and external events.
Interested in how people respond to stimuli.
Stimuli – perceivable units of the environment or events that may affect behavior
Responses – observable reactions to stimuli
Contiguity – whenever two sensations occur together over and over again, they
become associated
School bell (stimulus)
Scurrying student zipping backpacks, slamming lockers, crowded hallways, etc.
(responses)
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Types of Behaviorism
Classical Conditioning (Pavlov)
Operant Conditioning (Skinner)
Classical
Conditioning
Operant
Conditioning
Behaviorism in the
Learning
Environment
Rewards and
Punishments
Responsibility for
student learning rests squarely with the teacher
Lecture-Based and Highly Structured
Guided Questions:
1. Share your learning takeaways.
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2. Why is an understanding of learning theory important for Community Educators?
References:
Adult Education and Training . Malcolm Tight. Rouledge. London. 1996
*Varried online references
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