Approaches to Learning Approaches to Learning Ways of Learning 1Ways of Learning 1

Year 1 PS Semester 2 Week 3

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L I N

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A L I

Word grid: find the 9 letter word and see how many words of 3 letters and over you can make using the centre letter in all words and each letter only once.

Thoughts so far on……..Thoughts so far on……..

Your personal learning experiences:

Were they positive or negative learning experiences? What made them so?

Were there any “significant breakthrough” moments? What triggered these?

Who played a significant part in your learning- how?

Compare e.g. learning to cycle with learning to read. Similarities? Differences?

Is all successful learning fundamentally the same?

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SELF STUDY SELF STUDY

This is a very full seminar, so you will need to look at the

PowerPoint on the LN and follow up the video links and references in

your own time.

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What did the Victorians believe What did the Victorians believe about learning?about learning?

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What do we believe now?What do we believe now?

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Educational TheoryEducational TheoryOver the next few weeks we will be

discussing key theorists but today will focus on Piaget, Vygotsky, Skinner And Bruner and some of the theories that they put forward –e.g. constructivism, behaviourism – note links with Child Development module semester 1.

It is important that you know about and read further about these theories as they underpin much of what you will see today in the 21st Century classroom.

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Historical influences on Historical influences on teaching styleteaching style

Prior to 1960sTeaching methods

primarily influenced by Pavlov, Skinner and Watson – the behaviourists

Believed that learning was through classical conditioning –learning through association

Child seen as passive receiver of knowledge

Led to teaching by direct instruction – didactic, chalk & talk

Little reference to developmental stages of the child which might affect what s/he can understand

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Historical influences on Historical influences on teaching styleteaching style

1960sWork of Piaget

(cognitivist) and Vygotsky (social constructivist) became influential (tho’ their theories were put forward during 1930s and 40s)

‘Child centred’ theory of learning challenged didactic teaching

Both development psychologists recognised that children have their own way of thinking. They are not little adults.

Plowden Report 1967 -recommended a shift away from didactic teaching to child centred teaching

Burrhus Skinner 1904-Burrhus Skinner 1904-19901990EARLY LIFEStable family life

in a small railroad town in Pennsylvania

His inventive interests came early

http://www.davidsonfilms.com/giants-of-psychology/b.-f.-skinner-fresh-appraisal

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RewardsRewardsWhat rewards have you seen

used to reinforce desired behaviour / learning in the classroom and beyond?

Are there any disadvantages to offering rewards?

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Limitations of the Limitations of the approachapproach Work was carried out on rodents & pigeons but

applied to humans – its critics say it provides a simplistic view of human learning & motivation

Rewards can be counter-productive – EXTRINSIC v INTRINSIC motivation

Child is seen as passive receiver of knowledge Led in the past to teaching by direct instruction –

didactic, chalk & talk Ignores emotion & complexities of human behaviour –

no ‘mind’ or ‘soul’ only a brain! Focuses on behaviour rather than thinking or feeling –

so can be authoritarian by nature Ignores judgement / reflection / ways patterns of

learning can be adapted to new information Little reference to developmental stages of the child

which might affect what s/he can understand

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Jean Piaget 1896 - 1980Jean Piaget 1896 - 1980Jean Piaget, a Swiss

psychologist, was the first person to propose an overall theory of cognitive development, based on the way children of different ages behave. His theory is called CONSTRUCTIVISM

http://www.davidsonfilms.com/giants-of-psychology/piagets-developmental-theory-overview?zenid=vgo93fld6ufbruu62obpcu6hr5

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His theory:His theory:Based on the idea that the minds

of young babies work in very different ways from the minds of adults – they are not mini-adults

Thinking passes through a series of distinct and consecutive stages en route to its adult form.

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Key ideasKey ideasSchema: the mental representations that

develop as children have new experiences & put new ideas together (Ref: Child Development Semester 1)

Assimilation: the process of taking in and recognising when experiencing something new

Accommodation: the process of learning by altering existing states of knowledge

Disequilibrium: new ideas cause discomfort. They need to be assimilated to restore equilibrium – feeling comfortable with our thinking.

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PIAGET’S STAGES OF COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT:PIAGET’S STAGES OF COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT:

The sensori-motor stage: 0-2 years approximately

Understanding drawn from physical action & senses.EgocentricBecome aware of object permanence

The pre-operational stage: 2-6 years approximately

Start to represent objects with wordsStill egocentric

The concrete operational stage: 6-12 years approximately

Begin to use logical thought about physical operationsCategorise objects by similarities and differencesAs egocentricity decreases, so role of self-concept / self esteem becomes crucial

The formal operational stage: 12 years approximately onwards

Able to think hypothetically and in abstractLimit to depth & breadth of knowledge

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Implications for Learning & Implications for Learning & TeachingTeaching

Ideas & knowledge should be presented at a level consistent with that the child is at

Teaching should be matched to the needs of the individual: children need to be presented with experiences that trigger assimilation & accommodation – e.g. when teaching a new concept in science, we must ask how closely this is related to the child’s previous learning (accommodation) or is it completely new (assimilation).

Learning should be supported by action – first-hand experience

Periods of play & exploration are needed for development 17

LimitationsLimitationsPiaget used a limited range of subjects in a

clinical situation – including his own three children!

The stages are not a continuous development but are ‘shifts’ in thinking; implying a ceiling on children’s development rather than emphasising what they can do.

There is too little emphasis on the social and emotional aspects of learning. [Susan Isaacs]

There is not enough emphasis on the social components of the learning experience. [Lev Vygotsky]

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Activity

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Lev Vygotsky 1896-1934Lev Vygotsky 1896-1934Born in 1896 in Orsha, Belarus.

Grew up in Gomel in prosperous Jewish family.

Attended Moscow University, majoring in law. Graduated 1918.

Returned to Gomel and taught in a wide variety of situations and pursued the study of psychology.

In 1924 he moved to Moscow, frenetically working on an amazingly diverse set of projects. He died of tuberculosis in 1934, leaving a wealth of work that is still being explored.

http://www.davidsonfilms.com/giants-of-psychology/vygotskys-developmental-theory-introduction?zenid=f5oqqs4742agmjsmpvt8r4s2l7

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Social ConstructivismSocial ConstructivismSocial constructivism is a form of

cognitive constructivism that emphasises the collaborative nature of much learning

Vygotsky admired Piaget’s work but did not see the child as ‘lone-explorer’

He believed that social and cultural influences crucially influence intellectual development, and was particularly interested in the role of language and social interaction.

He also thought that play and imagination were important to development and learning

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Or put more simply…Or put more simply…

The difference between what a child can learn alone and what he can learn through interaction with others.

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Implications for Vygotsky’s thinking on Implications for Vygotsky’s thinking on classroom practiceclassroom practice

Play is important as it helps children to experiment with new roles and ideas and stimulates cognitive development

Teacher needs to take into account what child already knows and believes and plan accordingly.

Giving support to learners at the appropriate time and level allows further understanding

Learning can be supported through discussion, practical activities, resources etc.

Children should be engaged in active learning with the teacher actively assisting what they are doing

The thinking that peers are important influences on learning has led to co-operative group work.

Children need to be taught appropriate language and how to use it so skills can be transferred to other contexts.

NLS and NNS are essentially Vygotskyan

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Potential limitations to Potential limitations to Vygotsky’s work:Vygotsky’s work:

In emphasising the nurture side of learning (the impact of others and the scaffolding they offer to learning), it could be argued that there is not enough emphasis on children’s role in their own development – the nature of learning and the child’s own personality.

Some of Vygotsky’s critics have taken issue with his methodologies as much of his work was not based on empirical evidence but were untested ideas or hypotheses.

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Jerome Bruner 1915 –Jerome Bruner 1915 –‘Knowing how something is ‘Knowing how something is put together is worth a put together is worth a thousand facts about it’thousand facts about it’

Continues the constructivist approach to learning

Introduced term ‘scaffolding’ – the way in which new ideas are presented to us can influence the way in which we master them

Model for understanding includes perception, thought, language, other symbol systems,, creativity, intuition, personality and motivation.

Children represent experiences and turn them into knowledge. They move between stages.

Spiral curriculum

Thus, the extent to which a teacher varies presentation to fit content, and provides stimuli and prompts to aid a lesson, affects the extent to which pupils can grasp new concepts.

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The poster “presentation”The poster “presentation”Not assessed,

but do think about making it interesting for your audience. Done in seminar groups/rooms.

During the seminar you will be directed by your tutor to a specific board to put your poster on.

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You will also include an Assignment You will also include an Assignment Diary:Diary:

1 per groupIn a plastic assignment folderIncluding a group assignment cover sheet

– all names / numbersAgreed guidelines for group work (seminar

2)A ‘register’ of dates of meetings and

attendance Agreed areas of responsibility with agreed

deadlines, outcomes etc. This needs to convey to the marker the contributions of each group member.

Hand in with poster in Week 8 seminar

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No seminar in Week 4 No seminar in Week 4

Use next week’s seminar time to work on your poster.

There is a LL though: more about learning styles and an introduction to multiple intelligences.

Make sure your diary is up to date.

Check assignment details / marking criteria carefully. Have you met them all?

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L I N

R T B

A L I

Word grid: find the 9 letter word and see how many words of 3 letters and over you can make using the centre letter in all words and each letter only once.

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Bibliography / Further ReadingBibliography / Further Reading

Kyriacou, C. (1997) Effective Teaching in Schools: (Theory and Practice, (2nd edition)) Cheltenham: Nelson Thornes. Chapter 3: How Pupils Learn

Potter, R. Chapter 5: An Introduction to Children’s Learning in Jacques, K. and Hyland, R. (2000) Professional Studies: Primary Phase. Exeter: Learning Matters

Pritchard, A. (2005) Ways of Learning: Learning Theories and Learning Styles in the Classroom. London: David Fulton (or 2011 updated edition)

Wood, D. (1998) 2nd edition, How Children Think and Learn. Oxford: Blackwell

INDEPENDENT STUDY INDEPENDENT STUDY TASKTASK

Meet your assignment group.

Read Sotto, E, (1994) When teaching becomes learning (In reading pack)

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