LOA: Explain their understanding of
of the concept of learning and how
people learn.
Learning is a complex process that involves many factors. In this presentation, we will
explore the different types of learning, the theories that explain how we learn, and the
implications for teaching and education.
Q1: What is your personal
understanding of the term
‘learning’ and how people learn?
What is Learning?
• Learning in education theory refers to the process by which
individuals acquire knowledge, skills, values, beliefs, and habits
through various forms of educational experiences.
• It encompasses a wide range of psychological and educational
phenomena, including perception, memory, problem-solving, and
decision-making.
➔ In educational settings, learning is often seen as a purposeful
and intentional process, driven by the desire to acquire new
information or skills or to improve existing ones.
➔As Simon, H. A. (n.d.) puts it: “Learning results from what the
student does and thinks and only from what the student does and
thinks. The teacher can advance learning only by influencing what
the student does to learn.”
The Many ways of Learning
Classical Conditioning Student-centered learning Operant Conditioning
This type of learning occurs when an This type of learning occurs when learners In this type of learning, behaviour is
are viewed as the heart of teaching and shaped by rewards and punishments that
association is made between a stimulus
they contribute to the lesson follow.
and a response.
Active Learning Teacher-centered Learning Observational Learning
Active learning is characterized by engagement the teacher functions as a lecturer, while People can learn by observing others
and participation, encouraging students to take students are expected to passively receive and the outcomes of their behaviour.
ownership of their learning. the knowledge being presented
Q2: What is your understanding of the
major theories of learning:
behaviourism, cognitivism,
constructivism and
humanism?
Theories of Learning
• Theories of learning in education have evolved over time, and some of the most
influential include behaviorism, cognitivism, constructivism, and humanisim.
• These theories offer different perspectives on how individuals learn, including the
role of reinforcement, mental processes, and personal experiences, respectively.
• Understanding these theories can help educators design effective teaching and
learning environments and choose appropriate instructional strategies for their
students.
• According to Brown, Roediger, and McDaniel (2014), "When we talk about learning,
we mean acquiring knowledge and skills and having them readily available from
memory so you can make sense of future problems and opportunities."
Theories of Learning:
Watch the video and jot down as many features as you can for each theory
Theories of Learning
Behaviourism Cognitivism
This theory focuses on observable This theory emphasizes the role of mental
behaviour and the role of rewards and processes like attention, memory, and
punishments in learning. problem solving in learning.
Constructivism Humanism
This theory views learning as an active This theory emphasizes the importance of
process of building knowledge through individual experience, creativity, and
experience and reflection. personal growth in learning.
Theories of Learning
Instruction: In groups, discuss and determine which theories apply to each scenario.
Debrief and state your reasons
Scenario1: Teaching Elementary Spelling Scenario2: Personal Development Workshop
In this scenario, a teacher is teaching elementary In this scenario, a facilitator is conducting a personal
school students how to spell new words. The development workshop for young adults. The
teacher uses a system of rewards and punishments workshop focuses on helping participants discover
to reinforce correct spelling. Students are given their strengths, values, and aspirations. Instead of
stickers for each word they spell correctly, and they following a rigid curriculum, the facilitator
lose a sticker for each mistake. The teacher keeps a encourages open discussions, self-reflection, and
visible chart where students can see their progress. self-directed learning.
Scenario3: Environmental Science Project Scenario4: Online Programming Course
In this middle school scenario, students are tasked with In this scenario, an instructor is structuring a course for
researching a local environmental issue and suggesting adults by gradually building on concepts, starting with the
solutions. The teacher offers resources, encourages basics and progressing to more complex programming
group discussions, and lets students design experiments. techniques. He emphasizes the importance of
The focus is on students actively building their grasp of understanding the underlying principles of programming,
environmental concepts through hands-on experiences memory management, and problem-solving. Learners are
and teamwork. encouraged to work through coding exercises and quizzes
to reinforce their understanding.
Theories of Learning
Features:
Behaviorism Scenario: Humanism Scenario:
Scenario: Teaching Elementary Spelling Scenario: Personal Development Workshop
1.Use of Rewards and Punishments: a system of rewards (stickers for 1.Individual Self-Exploration: This scenario promotes individual self-
correct spelling) and punishments (losing stickers for mistakes) ➔ discovery and personal growth, aligning with humanism's emphasis on
External stimuli and reinforcement the potential for self-actualization.
2.Visible Progress Tracking: The visible chart provides immediate 2.Supportive Environment: The workshop's empathetic and supportive
feedback. Students can see the direct consequences of their actions atmosphere reflects humanism's focus on creating a positive and
(correct or incorrect spelling), reinforcing desired behaviors (correct understanding learning environment.
spelling) through positive reinforcement. 3.Self-Directed Learning: Participants in the workshop take ownership of
3.Clear Structure: The clear structure of rewarding correct spelling helps their personal development through activities like journaling and goal-
students understand the expectations and consequences, which is a key setting, aligning with humanism's principles of self-responsibility and
element of behaviorist teaching. autonomy.
Cognitivism Scenario: Constructivism Scenario:
Scenario: Online Programming Course Scenario: Environmental Science Project
1.Emphasis on Understanding: This scenario underscores the importance 1.Active Learning: Students actively construct knowledge through
of understanding programming principles, in line with cognitivism's focus researching, proposing solutions, and conducting experiments, which
on mental processes. aligns with constructivism's emphasis on active learning.
2.Gradual Progression: The course's step-by-step approach aligns with 2.Collaboration: Group discussions encourage collaborative learning,
cognitivist principles of breaking complex concepts into manageable reflecting constructivism's focus on interaction and shared
parts. understanding.
3.Problem-Solving Engagement: By including coding exercises, the 3.Real-World Application: This scenario's application of environmental
scenario promotes cognitive engagement, a key element of cognitivism. concepts to real-life issues aligns with constructivist teaching's emphasis
on practical, real-world relevance.
Q3:
How does an understanding of the
acquisition and participation models of
learning help you to teach and
your students to learn?
What is Teaching?
Teaching Process
Impart Knowledge and Skills
Design and Deliver Lessons
Provide Feedback and Assessment
Apply and Practice Learning
Pedagogy
• Pedagogy is the art and science of teaching and learning.
• It refers to the method of how teachers teach, in theory and in
practice.
• It is formed by an educator's teaching beliefs and concerns the
interplay between culture and different ways to learn.
Evaluation
Curriculum Design Teaching Methods
Did we teach it
What we teach How we teach it
effectively
Approach
• Educational approaches are different ways and means used for
teaching something.
• There are numerous approaches, and they depend on what is
being taught, the instructor, and the student(s).
Grammar-Translation
Communicative Guided Discovery
Method
Approach Teachers provide
Students study
Communication rather examples and then
grammar and
than memorizing a guide the students to
translate words into
series of rules. work out rules.
their own language.
Method
• The general principles, pedagogy
and management used for
classroom instruction.
• Your choice of teaching method
depends on what fits you — your
educational philosophy, classroom
demographic, subject area(s) and
school mission statement.
Strategy
A policy or plan of action
that is designed to achieve
an overall goal.
Technique
Implementation of
appropriate tools, or
processes that facilitate the
application of senses,
memory and cognition to
enhance teaching
practices and improve
learning outcomes.
Let’s apply:
For each scenario define the theory, approach, method, strategy, and technique:
Scenario 1: Language Teaching Scenario 2: Science class
Context: A high school English teacher is planning a unit on Context: A 4th-grade science teacher is introducing the concept of
creative writing for a class of 10th-grade students. The teacher simple machines, such as levers and pulleys. The teacher
wants to enhance students' writing skills and foster creativity. He emphasizes hands-on exploration and guided inquiry to help
believes that students learn best when they actively construct students develop a deep understanding of simple machines.
their knowledge through real-world tasks emphasizing practical The lesson begins with students examining a collection of simple
application and problem-solving. To stimulate creativity, the machines and identifying patterns. Later, in groups, students
teacher occasionally starts class with timed freewriting exercises experiment with different types of simple machines using provided
on various prompts. materials. They collaborate, make observations, and explore how
During the session, the teacher uses a structured step-by-step each machine works.
process to guide students through brainstorming, drafting, The teacher guides and asks probing questions as students
revising, and publishing their creative writing pieces. experiment, fostering critical thinking and discovery. For example,
He believes that students learn best when they actively construct they may ask, "How does changing the fulcrum position affect the
their knowledge. They encourage students to express their lever's operation?"
creativity through writing and value their individual perspectives. Finally, the class reflects together. Students share their findings,
As for assessment, the teacher promotes peer feedback and and the teacher introduces terminology and concepts, reinforcing
provides his students with self-assessment. what students have discovered.
•Teaching Theory: Constructivism •Teaching Theory: Constructivism
•Teaching Approach: Task-based learning •Teaching Approach: Guided Discovery
•Teaching Method: Process writing •Teaching Method: Hands-on Exploration and Pattern Identification
•Teaching Strategy: Peer editing and feedback •Teaching Strategy: Small Group Experimentation
•Teaching Technique: Freewriting exercises •Teaching Technique: Guided Questioning
Acquisition & Participation Models
• Acquisition • Participation
• Learning is seen as an increase in knowledge • Learning is seen as creating personal
and skills as a direct result of teaching meaning by reflecting on shared experiences
• Learning is mainly teacher-led where the and then applying it in different situations
teaching is very didactic, and the students • Learning is seen as more of an ‘active’ rather
are mostly passive than a passive process where the teacher
• Has dominated many teachers’ classroom acts as a facilitator as well as a transmitter of
practice over the years knowledge and skills
• Now at the forefront of many teachers’
classroom practice
➔ By understanding both the acquisition and participation models, learners can appreciate the importance of both
passively acquiring information and actively engaging with it. They can then develop strategies that incorporate
elements of both models, such as actively seeking out new information and engaging in reflective activities to
deepen their understanding.
Test your understanding:
answer the following MCQ
Question 1: Which model of learning is characterized by learning as an increase in knowledge and skills due to
teaching?
A) Acquisition Model
B) Participation Model
C) Hybrid Model
Question 2: In the Acquisition Model, what is the primary role of the teacher?
A) To facilitate active learning
B) To be a transmitter of knowledge and skills
C) To encourage reflective thinking
Question 3: According to the Participation Model, what is the primary role of the teacher?
A) To be didactic and passive
B) To dominate classroom practice
C) To act as a facilitator and transmitter of knowledge
Question 4: Which model of learning emphasizes learning as creating personal meaning through reflection on shared
experiences?
A) Acquisition Model
B) Participation Model
C) Collaborative Model
➔certain scientific principles of teaching can be learned through training and education, the artistic
elements of the process require an innate talent or creativity that comes from within the teacher.
➔ Wilson and Peterson who claim that good teaching requires teachers to create and use, expand and
reject, construct and reconstruct theories of learning and teaching. Those theories are not intuitions, or
“common sense” but carefully crafted lessons learned from years of experience and careful inquiry. ‘’
(Wilson & Peterson, 2006).
Teaching and Learning
Acquisition Model Participation Model Metacognition
Teachers play a central role Students are active The ability to reflect on one's
in transmitting knowledge to participants in the learning own thinking and learning
students. process, constructing their processes.
own understanding.
Q4:
What is the relationship between
‘active learning’ and the theory of
constructivism?
Active Learning and Constructivism
• Constructivism is a learning theory that posits that individuals construct their own
understanding and knowledge of the world through their experiences and
interactions with it.
• Active learning is a teaching method that emphasizes student engagement and
interaction in the learning process, rather than passive absorption of information.
It is based on the idea that students are more likely to understand and retain
information when they are actively involved in constructing their own
understanding, rather than simply being told what to learn.
➔Active learning is based on the principles of constructivism.
➔an understanding of constructivism can inform the implementation of active
learning in the classroom, as it highlights the importance of student engagement
and interaction in the learning process
Facto rs A ffecting Learning
1 Motivation
The desire to engage in and persist with learning activities.
2 Attention
The ability to selectively focus on relevant information.
3 Feedback
Information about performance that helps improve learning.
The Learning Process
Attention Storage Retrieval
The first step in learning is The information is then Finally, the information can
paying attention to the stored in memory for future be retrieved when needed.
information presented. use.
Learning Styles
Visual Auditory
People who prefer to learn through seeing People who prefer to learn through hearing
and observing. and listening.
Read/Write Kinaesthetic
People who prefer to learn through reading People who prefer to learn through hands-
and writing. on activities and movement.
Q5:
Why do teachers need an
understanding of the concept of
metacognition?
Metacognition
WHAT IS METACOGNITION IN
THE CLASSROOM?
‘Thinking about thinking’ - ‘learning to learn’
Plan – Monitor - Evaluate
For teachers:
• Pre-assessment (Self-Assessment) of Content.
• Self-Assessment of Self-Regulated Learning Skills.
• Think Aloud for Metacognition.
• Concept Mapping and Visual Study Tools.
• Classroom Assessment Tools.
• Metacognitive Note Taking Skills.
• Reflective Writing.
WHAT IS METACOGNITION IN
THE CLASSROOM?
For learners:
• Use the syllabus as a roadmap.
• Summon your prior knowledge.
• Think aloud.
• Ask yourself questions.
• Use writing.
• Organize your thoughts.
• Take notes from memory.
• Review your exams.
Learners to Develop
Metacognition?
Identify what does and
doesn’t work well
Build on their
Reflective Thinking
reflexive thinking
Working alongside students to see
Ask them what they would do
what could be improved and what Encourage discussions in the
differently next time if they classroom about society and
experience a setback, failure, needs to be sustained will help both
moral dilemmas, and this will
or make a mistake. This will help groups in setting targets. It will also
enable students to challenge
increase their self-awareness - a help build a positive student-teacher their own biases and become
key aspect of metacognitive relationship. adaptive thinkers.
thinking.
Bloom’s taxonomy
Why Understanding Learning Matters
1 Improved Teaching
Teachers who understand
how learning works can
create more effective
lesson plans and activities. 2 Enhanced Learning
Students who understand
how they learn can become
more efficient and effective
learners. 3 Personal Growth
An understanding of
learning can support
personal growth and
lifelong learning.
Why Understanding Learning Matters
Metacognition can be fostered through instructional strategies that encourage students
to reflect on their own learning, monitor their progress, and adjust their approaches as
necessary. This can include activities such as self-assessment, goal setting, and
strategy evaluation.
➔Understanding the concept of metacognition is important for teachers because it
helps them to promote students' awareness and regulation of their own thinking and
learning processes.
➔When students have a clear understanding of how they learn and can monitor their
own thinking, they are better equipped to take an active role in their own learning and
make informed decisions about the strategies they use.
