MEDU 111 Phase 2 – 2nd year , 3rd semester Learning theories MEDU 111 Phase 2 – 2nd year , 3rd semester Dr. Khalid Alabdulwahhab

Objectives Evolution of learning theories Active versus passive learning Adult learning Apply active and adult learning Dr.Khalid Alabdulwahhab 1435-1436

Evolution of learning theories What is a theory? Provides a general explanation for observations. Can never be established beyond all doubt. May be modified. Seldom thrown out completely Dr.Khalid Alabdulwahhab 1435-1436

Evolution of learning theories What is Learning ? For thousands of years, philosophers and psychologists have sought to understand the nature of learning, how it occurs, and how one person can influence the learning of another person. Over the past half-century, definitions of learning shifted from Changes that occur in the mind or behavior of an individual to Changes in participation in ongoing activities with others Changes in a person's identity within a group (e.g., a change from being a follower to being a leader). Most definitions of learning involve a change in an individual's knowledge, ability to perform a skill, or participate in an activity with other individuals Dr.Khalid Alabdulwahhab 1435-1436

Evolution of learning theories What is Learning theories? Describe how information is absorbed, processed, and retained during learning An attempt to describe how people learn Dr.Khalid Alabdulwahhab 1435-1436

Evolution of learning theories Why there is many theories? Due to the fact that there are different types of learning. Dr.Khalid Alabdulwahhab 1435-1436

Evolution of learning theories There are many different theories Behaviorism Cognitivism Constructivism Connectivism Dr.Khalid Alabdulwahhab 1435-1436

Evolution of learning theories Behaviorism Concentrates on overt behaviors that can be observed and measured. It views the mind as a "black box“. Totally ignoring the possibility of thought processes occurring in the mind. look at learning as an aspect of conditioning. Based on a change in knowledge through stimulus/response All behavior caused by external stimuli. Dr.Khalid Alabdulwahhab 1435-1436

Evolution of learning theories Cognitivism Information comes in, is being processed, and leads to certain outcomes. View learning as involving the acquisition or reorganization of the cognitive structures through which humans process and store information. Humans generate knowledge through sequential development of an individual’s cognitive abilities Focuses on the inner mental activities – opening the “black box”. Dr.Khalid Alabdulwahhab 1435-1436

Evolution of learning theories Constructivism Each person has a different interpretation and construction of knowledge. Learners construct their own reality based upon their perceptions of experiences, so an individual's knowledge is a function of one's prior experiences, mental structures, and beliefs that are used to interpret objects and events Dr.Khalid Alabdulwahhab 1435-1436

Evolution of learning theories Connectivism A learning theory for the digital age. The integration of cognition and emotions in meaning-making Learning has an end goal A learner can exponentially improve their own learning by plugging into an existing network. The integration of principles explored by chaos, network, and complexity and self-organization theories Dr.Khalid Alabdulwahhab 1435-1436

Evolution of learning theories Dr.Khalid Alabdulwahhab 1435-1436

Evolution of learning theories Dr.Khalid Alabdulwahhab 1435-1436

Objectives Evolution of learning theories Active versus passive learning Adult learning Apply active and adult learning Dr.Khalid Alabdulwahhab 1435-1436

Active Vs Passive Learning Mind as empty vessels or sponges which can be easily filled with knowledge and were expected to absorb most of it. Students are listening to instructors, reading books as per instructions, looking at presentations or slides. They don’t engage with it. They do not interact, share their insight or contribute to it. Dr.Khalid Alabdulwahhab 1435-1436

Active Vs Passive Learning Active Learning Process where a learner takes a dynamic and energetic role in his or her education. Learner is engaged and motivated even before the actual learning starts. Learner can restructure and merge the prior knowledge with the new information and get the new insight and start practicing it. Puts the responsibility on learner and encourages them to get and stay engaged in class discussions and exercises and compel them to read, speak, listen and think. Learner is not dependent on a teacher is a partner in the process. Teachers act as guides and motivators to the learning process. Dr.Khalid Alabdulwahhab 1435-1436

Active Vs Passive Learning Can reading be an Active Learning? Don’t just read and close the book Try to interact with what you have read immediately Draw flow charts Draw diagrams Write a summary Speak to your self Explain it to others Dr.Khalid Alabdulwahhab 1435-1436

Active Vs Passive Learning What do we remember? 20% of what we read 30% of what we hear 40% of what we see 50% of what we say 60% of what we do 90% of what we read, hear, see, say and do Dr.Khalid Alabdulwahhab 1435-1436

Objectives Evolution of learning theories Active versus passive learning Adult learning Apply active and adult learning Dr.Khalid Alabdulwahhab 1435-1436

Adult learning Andragogy Is a theory that holds a set of assumptions about how adults learn “the art and science of helping adults learn” Andragogy as a study of adult learning originated in Europe in 1950's Dr.Khalid Alabdulwahhab 1435-1436

What do you mean by “adult learning principles”? Malcolm Knowles (1970) identified the six principles of adult learning Adults are internally motivated and self-directed Adults bring life experiences and knowledge to learning experiences Adults are goal oriented Adults are relevancy oriented Adults are practical Adult learners like to be respected Dr.Khalid Alabdulwahhab 1435-1436

Adults are internally motivated and self-directed Adult learning Adults are internally motivated and self-directed Adults need to know the reason for learning Adult learners resist learning when they feel others are imposing information, ideas or actions on them Dr.Khalid Alabdulwahhab 1435-1436

Adults bring life experiences and knowledge to learning experiences Adult learning Adults bring life experiences and knowledge to learning experiences Adults like to be given opportunity to use their existing foundation of knowledge Use their experience gained from life experience, and apply it to their new learning experiences Dr.Khalid Alabdulwahhab 1435-1436

Adults are goal oriented Adult learning Adults are goal oriented Adult students become ready to learn when they experience a need to learn it in order to cope more satisfyingly with real-life tasks or problems Dr.Khalid Alabdulwahhab 1435-1436

Adults are relevancy oriented Adult learning Adults are relevancy oriented Adult learners want to know the relevance of what they are learning to what they want to achieve Dr.Khalid Alabdulwahhab 1435-1436

Practical fieldwork experiences Adult learning Adults are practical Through : Practical fieldwork experiences Interacting with real clients and their real life situations Move from classroom and textbook mode to hands-on problem solving where they can recognize how what they are learning applies to life and the work. Dr.Khalid Alabdulwahhab 1435-1436

Adult learners like to be respected Taking interest. Adult learning Adult learners like to be respected Taking interest. Acknowledging the wealth of experiences that the student brings to the placement. Regarding them as a colleague who is equal in life experience. Encouraging expression of ideas, reasoning and feedback at every opportunity. Dr.Khalid Alabdulwahhab 1435-1436

Summery Evolution of learning theories Active versus passive learning Adult learning Apply active and adult learning Dr.Khalid Alabdulwahhab 1435-1436