learning styles and learning theories

WELCOME

LEARNING STYLES AND LEARNING THEORIES

Gopala Y.M Ph.D Scholar

Dept. of Agril. ExtnUAS, Bangalore

LEARNING STYLE

Ellis (1985) defines learning style (or cognitive style) as the more or less consistent way in which a person perceives, conceptualizes, organizes and recalls information in other words the way you learn.

Visual Learners learn by sight

Auditory Learners learn by hearing

Tactile Learners (kinesthetic) learn by touch

LEARNING STYLE EXAMPLE

Different people will have different learning styles.

Eg: Bharath – gets bored with abstractions. Likes to discuss concrete problems and share ideas with other people.

Sharath – likes to read up on theoretical background and find the “right answer

WHY LEARNING STYLES?

Research shows that

Each learning style uses different parts of the brain.

By involving more of the brain during learning, we remember more of what we learn.

IMPORTANCE OF IDENTIFYING THE LEARNING STYLE

Learning styles have more influence learning.

Preferred learning styles guide the way student learn.

Learning styles also change the way learner recall

information, and even the words they choose.

THE SEVEN LEARNING STYLES

1. Visual (spatial): Prefer using pictures, images, and spatial understanding.

2. Aural (auditory-musical): Prefer using sound and music.

3. Verbal (linguistic): Prefer using words, both in speech and writing.

4. Physical (kinesthetic): Prefer using learners body, hands and sense of touch.

CONTI….

5. Logical (mathematical): Prefer using logic, reasoning and systems.

6. Social (interpersonal): Prefer to learn in groups or with other people.

7. Solitary (intrapersonal): Prefer to work alone and use self-study.

THEORIES OF LEARNING

There are many different theories of how people learn and it is useful to consider their application to how students learn and also how you teach in educational programs.

It is interesting to think about your own particular way of learning and to recognize that everyone does not learn the way you do.

WHY CONSIDER LEARNING THEORIES?

Designing and implementation Teaching and learning activities.

To understand individual differences among learners

To work towards including activities that have variety and interest for all the learners in educational programs.

To identify the learners interest.

LEARNING THEORIES

1. Sensory stimulation theory

2. Reinforcement theory

3. Cognitive-Gestalt approaches

4. Holistic learning theory

5. Facilitation theory

6. Experiential learning

7. Adult learning (Andragogy)

SENSORY STIMULATION THEORY

Its basic premise that effective learning occurs when the senses are stimulated.

Laird quotes research that found that the vast majority of knowledge held by adults

75 % is learned through seeing.

13 % is learned through Hearing

12 % is learned through touch, smell and taste By stimulating the senses, especially the visual

sense, learning can be enhanced. However, this theory says that if multi-senses are

stimulated, greater learning takes place.

REINFORCEMENT THEORY

This theory was developed B.F. Skinner.

Skinner believed that behaviour is a function of its consequences.

The learner will repeat the desired behaviour if positive reinforcement (a pleasant consequence) follows the behaviour.

Negative reinforcement also strengthen a behaviour and refers to a situation when a negative condition is stopped or avoided as a consequence of the bahaviour

COGNITIVE-GESTALT APPROACHES

The emphasis here is on the importance of experience, meaning, problem-solving and the development of insight.

Burns notes that this theory has developed the concept that individuals have different needs and concerns at different times, and that they have subjective interpretations in different contexts.

HOLISTIC LEARNING THEORY

The basic premise of this theory is that the

individual personality consists of many

elements ... specifically the intellect, emotions,

the body impulse (or desire), intuition and

imagination that all require activation if learning

is to be more effective.

FACILITATION THEORY (THE HUMANIST

APPROACH)

Carl Rogers and others have developed the theory of facilitative learning

The basic premise of this theory is that learning will occur by the educator acting as a facilitator,

Theory believes that human beings have a natural eagerness to learn,

The most significant learning involves changing one's concept of oneself.

EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING THEORY

Kolb proposed a four-stage Experiential learning process.

Research found that people learn in four ways

Through concrete experience

Through observation and reflection

Through abstract conceptualization

Through active experimentation

ADULT LEARNING (ANDRAGOGY) :

This theory highlights that when adulthood arrives in the people they behave in adult ways and believe themselves to be adults.

Adult learning bring a great deal of experience to the learning environment;

Adult expects to have a high degree of influence on what they are to be educated for;

Adults expect their responses to be acted upon when asked for a feedback on the progress of the programme.

CONCLUSION

Discovering one’s learning style that can

lead to an increase in achievement and self-

confidence is very much essential for making

learning effective. Further, learning is an active

process and it cannot be passive. Hence

identification of learners interest through learning

theories is very crucial task on the part of teacher.

THANK YOU