Karen Parks, Haibei Zhang, Huong Hoang-Fall 2001-

EPSY 335 Learning TheoriesEPSY 335 Learning Theories

IntroductionIntroduction

The lesson:

is part of a unit in 10th grade Advanced Biology, entitled: “The Cycling of Energy and Matter through the Earth’s Ecosystem”

is half way through this multiple-lesson unit

IntroductionIntroduction

Objectives of the lesson:

help students understand the structural and functional relationships between and among organic chemicals

provide a foundation for understanding the cycling of matter and energy between the soil, atmosphere and living organisms in the ecosystem

IntroductionIntroduction

Difficulties encountered by the students

Misconception Confusion Difficult to remember

SOLUTION SOLUTION

Learning Theories:

David Ausubel’s Cognitive Psychology(basis of Concept Map)

Vygotsky’s Sociocultural Theory

Ausubel's cognitive psychologyAusubel's cognitive psychology

Meaningfulness• Students need to employ meaningful learning rather

than rote learning (memorization) to promote higher order thinking and retention of knowledge.

Assimilation• Learning takes place by the assimilation of new

concepts and propositions into existing concept propositional frameworks held by the learner.

Advance Organizers can be used

Cognitive StructureCognitive Structure

Cognitive structure is hierarchically organized

Concepts in cognitive structure undergo progressive differentiation,

Integrative reconciliation occurs when two or more concepts are recognized as relatable

Concept MappingConcept Mapping

A powerful tool for organizing and representing knowledge

Research FindingsResearch Findings Consistent correlations between quality of concept map and

student achievement Concept maps could be used to distinguish experts from

novices within a domain• Ruiz-Primo and Shavelson (1996)

Concept map enhances student achievements in:– Multiple-choice measure of misconceptions– Fill-in-blank concept map instrument– General measure of concept relatedness

• Zeilik et al. (1997)

Combining concept map with lecture resulted in significantly better learning and retention

• Cliburn(1990)

Vygotsky’s Sociocultural TheoryVygotsky’s Sociocultural Theory

Social environment is critical for learning Social environment influences cognition

through cultural tools Zone of Proximal Development Learners also bring their own

understandings to social interactions The use of instructional scaffolding

Lesson PlanLesson PlanApplying Ausubel’s Cognitive Psychology/Concept Mapping

Concept maps will: mirror the way ideas and knowledge are organized in the learner’s cognitive

structures Be useful for reviewing knowledge and allow students to assess prior

knowledge uncover misconceptions help students to organize knowledge and focus on important concepts The visual map helps students remember the lesson better

Lesson Plan:Lesson Plan:Applying Vygotsky’s Sociocultural Theory/Cooperative Grouping

Requiring students to work together in cooperative groups so that:– Social interaction brings about higher motivation

– Some group members will be in the ZPD, and others will provide support to advance their learning

– Cognitive incongruity requires the group members to develop a common understanding by correcting misconceptions

– Through rich dialog, learners process information using more elaboration and establish more propositions in their cognitive structures, increasing the depth of understanding and retention of knowledge

– Dialog between students and construction of maps provides the teacher with a clear visual model of students’ cognitive structures.

Integration of TechnologyIntegration of Technology

A number of software has been develop to build concept maps

Inspiration is one of them It is possible to use Inspiration for Karen’s

lesson An example of concept map produced by

Inspiration

Advantages of TechnologyAdvantages of Technology

Easy to use Possible to draw the map quickly Easy to modify the map Possible to produce beautiful and clear

maps

Disadvantages of TechnologyDisadvantages of Technology

Expensive method (requires computers and may be printers for large size papers)

Less individual involvement than the manual method as not much work is required -> sometimes less exciting

CritiqueCritiqueAusubel/Concept Mapping

Not all knowledge can be arranged in a hierarchical order

Extensive training is required It does not work well for direct teaching or recall

of rote learning Time consuming Some students are uncomfortable with it It can only be combined with Constructivist

methods

CritiqueCritiqueVygotsky/Cooperative Grouping

Must be designed to give each individual in the group a responsibility for accountability.

Requires training of students in cooperative behaviors and responsibilities.

Requires continuous monitoring and feedback from the teacher.

It can promote misconception without monitoring Time consuming

ReferenceReference Ivie, Stanley D. “Ausubel’s Learning Theory: An Approach to Teaching Higher Order Thinking Skills,” High School

Journal. Oct. 1998: Vol. 82,, i1, p.35.

Novak, Joseph P. and Gowan, D. Bob. Learning How to Learn, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1984.

Romance, Nancy R. and Vitale, Michael R. “Concept Mapping as a Tool for Learning,” College Teaching. Spring, 1999: Vol.47, i2, p74.

Sandoval, Jonathan. “Teaching in Subject Matter Areas: Science,” Annual Review of Psychology. 1995: Vol.46, p355.

Schunk, Dale H. Learning Theories, and educational Perspective, 3rd Ed., Prentice Hall, 1996.

http://cmap.coginst.uwf.edu/info/

http://www.utc.edu/Teaching-Resource-Center/concepts.html

http://158.132.100.221/CMWkshp_folder/CncptMapp.Wkshop.html

http://users.edte.utwente.nl/lanzing/cm_home.htm

http://www2.ucsc.edu/mlrg/proc3abstracts.html#Ahlberg-MeaningfulLearnin

http://www-personal.umich.edu/~cberger/compmapanalysis.htm

http://www.chemistry.ohio-state.edu/~mathews/Ohio_Project/reports/PDF_files/SLBretz.PDF

http://www.dean.usma.edu/math/activities/cape/assessment/concept_mapping.htm

http://www.aals.org/profdev/newideas/athomas.html

http://www.spjc.edu/SPG/Science/Lancraft/cmapping/cmapping.html#A1

http://ericit.org/digests/mapping.shtml

Thank you Thank you for your attentionfor your attention