LEARNING THEORIES

 

Book Review: Dumbing Us Down

Question 1

What do you think about Gatto's ideas as expressed  in this review?

 Teaching and Learning: Lost in a Buzzword Wasteland

Question 2

Reflect on this article. Do you agree or disagree? Why?

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LEARNING THORIES

A brief introduction to Learning Theories

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The 5 Educational Learning Theories

1. Behaviorism: Behaviorism is using reinforcement and punishment techniques to encourage or discourage certain behaviors. The environment around us shapes us because we are blank slates and so the behaviors of others can influence our behaviors as well. We can be conditioned to follow certain behavior patterns by the people around us. An example can be rats who push the lever everytime they get food and then keep continuing that behavior of pushing the lever to get more food. Their behavior of pushing the lever has been conditioned by behaviorism. 

2. Cognitivism: Cognitivism focuses more on the mind and the thinking process through reading texts and lecture instructions. People who learn this way are often thought as information processors. People are rational human beings whose actions are consequences of thinking. It focuses on the processes of mental activities like thinking, memory, knowing, and problem solving. Schema theory is using your own knowladge to further your learning, sort of like a Black Box on an airplane.

3. Constructivism:  Constructivism is a theory in education that recognizes the learners' understanding and knowledge based on their own experiences prior to entering school. It is associated with various philosophical positions, particularly in epistemology as well as ontology, politics, and ethics. It is based on the idea that people are responsible in creating their own understanding of the world by using what they know based on previous experiences in the process of linking new information to these experiences. People use these experiences and new information to construct their own meaning. 

4. Humanism:Humanism is when someone is trying to be a complete person. To do that, one must achieve the tiers of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs which is separated into three categories: basic needs, psychological needs, and self-fulfillment. The goal is to cultivate a person as a whole and create the most optimal self. A person must gradually ascend the humanistic needs based on a hierarchy to reach their peek potential. Humanism emphasizes the individual’s values, motivations, and goals. Humanistic theory has the basic assumption that people exist with free will and the ability to influence their lives through acts of intentionality. 

5. Connectivism: Connectivism is a theoretical framework for understanding learning in a digital age. It emphasizes how internet technologies such as web browsers, search engines, wikis, online discussion forums, and social networks contributed to new avenues of learning.  Today we live in the social media world with a lot of technology at our disposal. It is very easy to connect all around the world and find new resources and information about any subject. Everyone of all ages can easily connect with the technology at our hands. 

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VIDEOS

Watch the following videos to complement the concepts explained above. Just watch enough to understand the main point. 

BEHAVIORISM

 B.F. Skinner

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COGNITIVISM

 Jean Piaget

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CONSTRUCTIVISM

Jim Applegate, Jesse Delia, Brant Burleson

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HUMANISM

Abraham Maslow

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CONECTIVISM

George Siemens

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Other theories:
15 Learning Theories in Education (A Complete Summary)

 

 ACTIVITY

 

Students will gather in groups and each group will choose a learning theory to discuss it. They will use the summaries and videos provided.

Then, they will agree on creating their own theory. They will articulate the theory and post it on Discussion Board.

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MAKE UP QUESTIONS

Answer the following questions; please be succinct:

Which of these theories do you identify with? Explain

Which theory do you dislike most? Why?

Which of these theories has been used by our American educational system at large? 

 

Which theory was used in your school district during your elementary and secondary education? Explain.

If you were to articulate and propose your own educational theory how would you call it? Explain the main ideas related to your own theory.  

How would you implement your theory in your own classroom?

Which theory is the most compatible with the idea of using the arts as a means to teach academics? Why?

 

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STUDENTS' WORK

  Corinne Issa

Learning Theory Behaviorism

If I had my own school, I would utilize behaviorism. I would utilize the theory of behaviorism to focus on positive behaviors using encouragement to create a very happy and stress free enviornment. Utilizing this theory will also allow students to make mistakes and learn from their mistakes, and other's mistakes. I would not punish the students when they follow a negative beahvior pattern as they will see when they follow an encouraging pattern they will be praised and have a lot of incentive to make positive choices. Using reinforcement will encouage the students to grow and will encourage them to follow positive behavior patterns. Reinforcement will encourage growth in a fun way.

 

 Learning Theory Humanism

Eliana, Bayley, Ryan, Ryan, Natalie

We would lean more toward a humanism style of learning because it focuses on being your best self through personal growth. Although contradictory to connectivism, we feel as though they tie into each other through a newtworking aspect.

In terms of humanism, it's more freeing, which leads a student to express themselves through all art forms.

Connectivism relies on a more technological base, which is useful for our day and age but could sometimes be less of a personal experience. Although important, outside sources could influence/inhibit an individual's learning because you are subconciously focusing on others rather than solely yourself.

 

Learning Theory Cognitivism

 

  Gabrielle Horowitz, Morgan Cartulano and Leala Solomon

In our ideal school, based on cognitivism, we would focus a lot on Piaget's fourth stage of cognitive development (formal operational), which is centered around morality. Within the curriculum, there will be aspects of students reflecting on not just ethics and morals in general, but their own morals. For example, students can act out plays and discuss the antagonist and protagonist and which are struggling with morality. Another example would be reading a novel and discussing the morals in a socratic seminar. We would also incorporate a "what would you do situation" in which students would act out and explain their actions in certain scenarious, which also addresses real-world issues. We want the students at our school to be prepared for the real world in not only the way they interact with their peers, but also how they see themselves. 

 

 Learning Theory

Brielle, Jenna, and Welly

Our Theory: Objective Teaching

Teach the facts and let people make their own opinions. Teach without illicit bias and allow students to challenge the beliefs of the school as well as their own. Allow them to form their own opinions even thought they may not agree with that of the textbook or the professor. The arts are a major part of this theory especially at a young age because art is interpreted differently by each individual. Allowing the students to discuss their own interpretation of an art piece will teach them that differing opinions are okay and normal.

 

 Reveiw of Dumbing Us Down

Gato's Book: Dumbing Us Down

Corinne Issa 

I thought it was extremely interesting that a teacher would ask themself if being in school was dumbing the "unlikeliest kids down." This was really thought provoking to me because I would never expect a teacher to think that school could hinder a child. However, then it made me realize that it just goes to show that you need to focus on the individual and maybe going to school could not be the best option for a student. Maybe they would benefit more from homeschooling. I also would have to agree that "getting out of kids way" and "giving them space" is very beneficial as it allows for more creativity in the class room and allows for more room to make mistakes. I agree that students have to be allowed to make mistakes because if they dont make mistakes, how will they learn? I think that if students are not allowed to make mistakes this is what leads to teaching confusion. Being on top of the students 24/7 while in the classroom and making sure they are doing everything right gives the student the wrong message that mistakes are bad. In addition, I love the aspect of community. I believe that if the classroom and school seems like a big community, a big family, it creates a healthy learning envrionment filled with love. 

 

Dumbing us down

 

Leala Solomon 

It seems that the author of this book does have some very strong and "radical" views. As the speaker was talking about the book, I did see the points that were being made and believe that it is important to address the topics he was bringing up. The self confidence aspect was very interesting to look at. Students are very dependent in the education system and they should be slowly weaned off of it, with less and less supervision. The cycle they are put in to constantly learn and memorize, just to forget after which further confuses them.