Spring 2011 Tutor Training Modern Learning Theories and Tutoring Designed and Presented by Tem Fuller

Define Learning Learning is an instinct Learning is an art Learning is related to epistemology? e·pis·te·mol·o·gy /ɪˌpɪstəˈmɒlədʒi/ –noun a branch of philosophy that investigates the origin, nature, methods, and limits of human knowledge.

Epistemology From Greek ἐπιστήμη – epistēmē, "knowledge, science" + λόγος, "logos") or theory of knowledge is the branch of philosophy concerned with the nature and scope (limitations) of knowledge.ἐπιστήμηλόγοςlogos It addresses the questions: – What is knowledge? – How is knowledge acquired? – How do we know what we know?

Learning and Intelligent Learning Systems Learning is the increase in the amount of response rules and concepts in the memory of an IS. Response rules are the knowledge that permits an IS to respond to a stimulus, and thus, to act in a given way to a given situation

Inductive and Deductive Reasoning

Learning Architecture versus Learning Method ReceptiveDirectiveGuided Discovery Exploratory AbsorbingLecture and demonstration Programmed Learning DiscussionReading DoingExercisesRole ModelingSimulation, Case Study Experimenting Brainstorming InteractingRole playingApprenticeship Team Training Action Learning ReflectingMetaphorsOpen-ended questions Reframing Problems Combining concepts Adopted: Learning Theories Retrieved 7 January 2011 from

Issues of Learning and Cognition as Complex Systems Jeff Bloom Department of Teaching & Learning College of Education Northern Arizona University Flagstaff, AZ Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association San Diego April 14, 2009

Activity Theory Learning is based on tool mediated activity in contexts and through cycles of transformation and creation of objective knowledge of reality.

Act > Reflect > Generalize > Test Implication Tutors construct knowledge about best tutoring practices Tutors negotiate knowledge Tutors create new forms of tutoring Please, give examples of using tutoring experiences in few consecutive tutoring sessions.

ACT We use existing theories as a starting point Scaffolding in the Zone of Proximal Development (The Social Theory of Learning) is an important step of the Tutoring Cycle Acting upon existing theories is the art of tutoring

Reflect The Supervised Tutor Training Form is a simple organizer of reflection – Focus on a specific tutoring strategy – Act and Reflect – Record your concerns and accomplishments Did you ask the tutee to locate learning resources suggested by the Instructor? Did you create some new learning materials? Did you ask the tutee to design learning materials?

Generalize Example: Math 121, Word Problems Let’s work together to generalize the method for solving word problems Read the problem until … Identify the type of this problem TranslateIn EnglishIn Algebra Organize the information in graph, table, list.. What do we know? What do we need to know?

Social Learning Social learning provides a common environment in which learners communicate ideas, methods, strategies, materials and learn by observing one another. For example: Learners learn from common experience on discussion boards or other forms of social media. Social learning and tutoring …. a) Help students to retrieve tutoring materials online and to share these materials through the discussion board b) Help tutees to learn how to work on the discussion board c) Design small tutorials that are missing in our collection

The Art and Science of Tutoring How do we know that we are good tutors? End of the semester survey Tutoring Surveys Analysis and reflection of tutoring surveys Analysis and reflection of Supervised Tutor Training form Re-fine actions > Evaluation

Learning Theories and Tutoring Practices The Theory of Constructivism was developed to change the architecture of learning - from teacher-centered classroom to learner- centered experiences. Designing learning environment for constructive learning is difficult in classroom, but learning environments for constructive learning in any tutoring session are possible and desirable.

From Theory to Practice Problem-based Learning Inquiry Constructivism Adaptive Learning Services

Assimilation Theory Learning is based on prior knowledge Assess tutee’s prior knowledge Record your observations Connect prior knowledge with new learning challenges

Behaviorist Theories Learning as change in behavior through: stimulus-response, automatic and reflexive

Brain-based Theory Discover and make sense through the patterns of observations (inductive reasoning). Parallel processing explains why the brain is recognizing long and short words (for example) with the same speed. Learning is mediated through cultures Learning is limited by the architecture of our brain. Attention Attention

Bateson’s Cybernetic & Deutero- Learning Learning as transformations through cybernetic feedback loops with mind extending beyond body. Holistic Meta-cognitive Mutli-contextual Emotions—important Meta-patterns Contextual Adaptive Learning also occurs at the level of genetics, where information is passed on to other generations; and this information is adaptive (re: Bateson, et al.)

Constructivist Theories Learning as the construction of meaning through connections to prior knowledge. Learners are exposed to supportive learning environment.

Social Constructivist Theories Learning as the construction of meaning through social interaction.

Information Processing Theories Learning as computational processing of information into various types of memory.

Neo-Schema Theories Learning as active, transactional, and embodied processes of representation at various levels of abstraction.

Situated Learning Learning as (unintentional) induction into the practices of particular communities, such as apprenticeships, cultures, etc.

Distributed Cognition Learning is a system that is distributed among people, tools, internal & external environments, artifacts, and time. Goals of learning tend to involve solving problems and acquiring expertise.

From Theory to Practice Please, open your Supervised Tutor Training Form Identify places in which your new knowledge about different theories of learning may be helpful