Theories of Teaching & Learning

PRESENTER: JACQUELYN B. ALLEN

WELCOME TO A NEW SCHOOL YEAR!!

Effective Instruction: Which way is the right way?◦ Direct Instruction

◦ Three learning theories:◦ Behavioral

◦ Cognitive

◦ Constructivist

Direct InstructionStraightforward teaching technique

◦ Teach a specific skill

◦ Teacher directed method◦ Teacher in front of the class and presents information

◦ You think: “isn’t this how everything is taught?”◦ Yes it used to be how everything was taught but not anymore!

◦ Why?

◦ No all students benefited from listening to the teacher talk/ some students learn differently!!!!

◦ Now teachers match the type of instruction to the task, only teaching directly when the lesson needs this type of instruction.

Progressive education movement of the late 19th and early 20th century began the “new” way of learning – Constructivism “Student driven”

Direct Instruction Pros & Cons

Pros◦ Everyone received the same information

◦ Everyone stayed together

◦ Teacher could use their same plans year after year

Cons◦ Everyone received information the same way

◦ Not everyone learns the same way

◦ Students were left behind

Direct Instruction vs. ConstructivistDIRECT INSTRUCTION

All students learn the same way

Teacher driven not student driven

Teach a specific skill

CONSTRUCTIVIST

Student-driven (student takes part in hands-on)

Inquiry-based learning

Theories of Learning

Behavioral TheoryReinforcement vs. Punishment

Stimulus Response

One-dimensional “superficial” or shallow in explaining behavior and learning

Environment shapes behavior – one learns from what they see

Principals of contiguity – how close in time two events must be to be formed

BehavioralSTRENGTHS

Specific goals are met

Learner focused clearly upon achieving the goals

Ability to find quick responses to well defined problems

WEAKNESSES

A stimulus

Instructional design is dependent on the workplace or classroom having and maintaining the appropriate stimuli

Learning is reactionary to the environment and its conditions

Cognitive TheoryLearning involves the reorganization of experiences in order to make sense of stimuli from the environment.

Internal and active mental process which develops with a learner, increased mental capacity and skills in order to learn better.

Easting knowledge structure must be present in order to compare and process new information

Schema – activated and utilized to benefit the learner

Develop knowledge through receiving, storing, and retrieving information.

Directs instructional designers to consider the learner as the focus of the design process.

Cognitive STRENGTHS

Has potential to provide more meaningful learning with a longer impact

Cognitive objectives are well suited for describing higher levels of learning

WEAKNESS

Strength◦ Schemas help to make learning more

meaningful, a learner is markedly at a disadvantage whenever relevant schemas or prerequisite knowledge do not exist.

Beliefs are only finite, pre-determined goals

Attitude “if it’s not broke, don’t fix it”

Constructivist TheorySix assumptions:

1. Learning is adaptive activity

2. Learning is situated in the context where it occurs

3. Knowledge is constructed by the learner

4. Experience and prior understanding play a role in learning

5. There is resistance to change

6. Social interaction plays a role in learning

ConstructivistTake into account the learner’s prior knowledge, understandings, and interests.

Open-ended in expectations where the results even the methods themselves are not easily measure and may not be consistent with each learner.

Addressing types of context in which the learning takes place is necessary in the scope of constructivism because it not only addresses instructional context but also learner context.

ConstructivistSTRENGTHS

Content presented multiple ways

Learners can develop new and individual representations of information

Active knowledge construction is promoted over passive transmission of information

WEAKNESSES

In adequate evaluations

Learners may not process the information correctly or their different experiences will hinder them

Chaos

ConclusionInstruction:

◦ An understanding and incorporation of all the theories is needed in our classrooms. We must focus on our students abilities and needs. This will lead to the direction of our instruction.

◦ Every perspective offers benefits but the learner must be taken into context when deciding when and what theory should be used.

◦ We all must change and adapt to the changes of our learners.