Ausubel`s Meaningful

Verbal Learning/
Subsumption Theory
Introduction
Many educational psychology theories often criticize the
expository or presentational manner of teaching. They say that
teachers assume such a major role in learning as providers of
information, while students remain as passive receivers of
information. David Ausubel, instead of criticizing this manner of
teaching, proposed ways of improving it. He suggested the use of
advanced organizers.His ideas are contained in his theory of
Meaningful Verbal Learning.
Ausubel`s theory
The most important factor influencing learning is
the quantity,clarity,and organization to present
knowledge. This present knowledge consist of facts,
concepts, proposition, theories, and raw perceptual
data that the learner has available to him/her at any
point in time. This comprises his/her cognitive
structure.
Ausubel`s theory
Meaningful learning takes place when
an idea to be learned is some sensible way
to ideas that the learner already possesses.
Ausubel believed that before new material
can be presented effectively, the student’s
cognitive structure should be strengthened.
Ausubel’s belief of the use of advanced
organizers is the anchored on the principle of
subsumption. He thought that the primary way
of learning was subsumption : a process by
which new material is related to relevant ideas
in the existing cognitive structure.
Meaningful learning can take place through four
processes:

●Derivative subsumption
●Correlative subsumption
●Superordinate learning
●Combinatorial learning
Derivative Subsumption

This describes the situation in which the new

information you learn is an example of a
concept that you have already learned.
Correlative Subsumption

Refers to the elaboration, extension, or

modification of the previously learned
concept or propositions by the
subsumptions of the incoming idea.
Superordinate learning

This describes the situation in which

the information learn is a concept that
relates known examples of a concept.
Combinatorial learning

This is when the newly acquired knowledge

combines with the prior knowledge to enrich the
understanding of both concepts. The first three
learning process all included new information that
relates to a hierarchy at a level that is either below
or above previously acquired knowledge.
Advanced Organizer

● You will find it easier to connect new information with

what you already know about the topic.
● You can readily see how the concepts in a certain topic
are related to each other.
Types of advanced organizers

1. Expository- describes the new content.

2. Narrative - present the new information in the form of a
story to students.
3. Skimming- is done by looking over the new material to
gain a basic overview.
4. Graphic organizer- visual to set up or outline the new
information. This may includes pictographs, descriptive
patterns, concepts patterns, concept maps.
Appliction principles
The most general ideas of a subject should be presented
first then progressively differentiated in terms of detail and
specificity. He called this progressive differentiation.
According to Ausubel, the purpose of progressive
differentiation is to increase the stability and clarity of
anchoring ideas