LEARNING THEORY

PREPARED BY: Fleur Elaine Dayondon-sumalpong, lpt,

maed-bio

Adult Learning Principles

• The need to know — why do I need to learn it?

• Learner self-concept — responsible for own

decisions/ treated as capable of self-direction

• Role of learners' experience — own

experiences the richest resource for learning

• Readiness to learn — ready to learn those

things they need to know in order to cope
effectively with life situations.

• Orientation to learning — motivated to learn to

the extent that they perceive that it will help
them perform tasks they confront in their life
situations.

• Motivation – internal rather than external

KNOWLEDGE VS LEARNING

Knowledge – Encompassing, taught in school, attained

Learning – A process, change in behaviour adaptable,  The ‘hidden curriculum’
keep learning as you grow older.  Intrinsic & extrinsic motivation

People How do people learn?

1. Behaviourism - Stimulus/response
Control Situations

Knowl
edge
of ..
Process Practice

Conceptual

By: Michael Eraut

 People – knowing others

 Situations – Ability to read the situation one
finds oneself in
 Conceptual - Theories & principles held
 Practice - Patient diagnosis, management,
assessment …
 Process - Knowing how to do things / go about
things
 Control - Managing oneself & one’s own
behaviour

Knowing that (the what, the facts, the who)

 Facts
 Technical
 Formal theories
 Formal or codified knowledge
2. Cognitivism - The mind as active processor..

Knowing How (the how)

 Performance
 Practical
 Theories in use
 Tacit knowledge

What motivates learning?

 "Learners are motivated within a context of

interlocking rewards and relationships,
incentives and barriers.’ (Mann, 1999)
 One of the most powerful motivators is
assessment
 3. Humanism - Being all you can be

“Learning is the process whereby knowledge is created

through the transformation of experience” (Kolb, 1984)
Experiential learning cycle Socratic Questioning – I cannot teach anybody
anything, I can only make them think.
a. Apply (plan)
b. Do (practice) 5. Situated Learning Theory
c. Review (reflect)  Apprenticeship
d. Theorise (interpret)  Communities of practice
 Legitimate peripheral participation
4. Social Learning