Learning Theories Applied to Teaching
LEARNING THEORIES AND TEACHING
INTRODUCTION “learning is commonly defined as a process that brings together cognitive, emotional, and environmental influences and experiences for acquiring , enhancing, or making changes in one’s knowledge, skills, values and world views” ( llleris,2000; Ormord,1995). This process could be explained through several theories, some of which include ; behavioral, cognitive, constructivist, and social cognitive learning theories. Presently teachers make use of these theories in their classrooms in order to maximize the learning potential of students and also to create a better learning environment inside the classrooms. This report includes a summary of these different learning theories used in Maldivian classrooms, a survey conducted to determine the extent of application of these theories in classrooms by a sample of teachers and the result of this survey. Behavioral learning theory is a much talked of leaning theory which is evidently utilized in many Maldivian classrooms as well. Behaviorism, founded by John B.Watson , mainly focuses on the aspects of human behavior which can be observed and measured. Also it explains our behavior as being shaped by our responses to environmental stimuli (Cherry) “give me a dozen healthy infants, well-informed and my own specified world to bring them up in and I will guarantee to take anyone at random and train him to become any type of specialist I might say---doctor, lawyer, artist, merchant-chief and yes, even beggar-man and thief regardless of his talents, penchants, tendencies, abilities, vocations, and race of his ancestors.” (John Watson, behaviourism, 1930) According to Watson, human behavior is a result of specific stimuli which brings about a certain response. B.F. Skinner expanded on this and came up with a view called operant conditioning, concluding that favorable outcomes are conditioned, while unsatisfying ones are not. (Melissa
INTRODUCTION “learning is commonly defined as a process that brings together cognitive, emotional, and environmental influences and experiences for acquiring , enhancing, or making changes in one’s knowledge, skills, values and world views” ( llleris,2000; Ormord,1995). This process could be explained through several theories, some of which include ; behavioral, cognitive, constructivist, and social cognitive learning theories. Presently teachers make use of these theories in their classrooms in order to maximize the learning potential of students and also to create a better learning environment inside the classrooms. This report includes a summary of these different learning theories used in Maldivian classrooms, a survey conducted to determine the extent of application of these theories in classrooms by a sample of teachers and the result of this survey. Behavioral learning theory is a much talked of leaning theory which is evidently utilized in many Maldivian classrooms as well. Behaviorism, founded by John B.Watson , mainly focuses on the aspects of human behavior which can be observed and measured. Also it explains our behavior as being shaped by our responses to environmental stimuli (Cherry) “give me a dozen healthy infants, well-informed and my own specified world to bring them up in and I will guarantee to take anyone at random and train him to become any type of specialist I might say---doctor, lawyer, artist, merchant-chief and yes, even beggar-man and thief regardless of his talents, penchants, tendencies, abilities, vocations, and race of his ancestors.” (John Watson, behaviourism, 1930) According to Watson, human behavior is a result of specific stimuli which brings about a certain response. B.F. Skinner expanded on this and came up with a view called operant conditioning, concluding that favorable outcomes are conditioned, while unsatisfying ones are not. (Melissa
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