Understanding Of Learning And The Main Learning Theories
What is theory:
- A theory is not something that works in isolation it must be agreed by a group of people with same the view.
- A theory is way to explain why somethings happen or understand certain types of behaviour.
- A theory is an aim to explain why and to provide understanding.
My understanding of “learning theories” that there are different aspects which describing how knowledge is absorbed, processed, and retained during leaning. The cognitive, emotional, and environmental influences, as well as prior experience, all play a party in how understanding, or a world view, is acquired or changed and knowledge and skills retained. However, I believe by following these steps it will help me acquire the knowledge that I need a study place away from children no interruption, having study materials such as books, laptop, internet, wi-fi, good chair and been organise with work.
What is learning
My understanding of learning is something that we all acquire from interacting with other people, for example kids repeat what they hear their parents talking. However, there are different types of learning; as a grown up, education is fundamental in our society is the basic thing that everybody must go through in other to become independent. Experiences in life provide us with learning opportunities to discover our talent, ability and skills. There are different methods of learning that helps shape our mind through thinking and actions. For example, in school, training, seminars and conference. However, to acquire skills and knowledge, people learn through their jobs, apprenticeships all those things can provide satisfaction and financial stability.
Maslow’s Theory
Abraham H. Maslow was an American psychologist who was well known for creating Maslow hierarchy of needs. He explained that human beings are born with natural drive to succeed where they are able to access basic needs such as food, water, warmth and rest. He also added that when provided with psychological needs such as belonging, relationship and self-esteem, this goes a long way to bring out the inner potential and in all self-accomplishment of a person. Here are some demonstration of the three stages or example of what he calls hierarchy of needs that make human being feel happy, with the factor that by having some of those things in life that will bring the desired outcome such as happiness, joy, and sense of belonging.
In my own opinion I think that those are necessary achievements of life but not for everyone some people have different priority. All depending on the opportunity that come to people by having the desire of becoming something does not mean that you will achieve it, because some people may not have the resources such as finance, education and good environment for example there are those with less privilege to accomplish their goal. Human being is never content as one need is met, another vision or idea becomes the next target. However, the desire of becoming great or achieving our maximum potential is essential because self-actualization is important in our society. In my own life at the very moment I am working in self-fulfilments need which are my dreams, visions, ideas, plans etc. However, there are steps that will be necessary for me to take to start believing in myself. This can be achieved through determination, motivation, dedication, courage and faith.
B. F. Skinner
B. F Skinner was a psychologist who came up with the ideas or theory of operant conditioning by studying why people have certain behaviours happen. His theory was based on the experiment he carried out on rats, where he placed the animal inside the box known as Skinner box. Skinner’s opinion simply meant that when we find ourselves in a new environment as humans, we present different types of behaviours while trying to adapt. Skinner theory was based on the fact that there is no such thing like human free will. His ideology was that on enforcing power or condition which will determine the outcome of a thing, either good or bad. Skinner disagrees with inner mental causes of behaviour that man has the capacity to think or react.
David Kolb
David Kolb learning cycle theory is that we learn from our life experience, according to Kolb in 1984 he explains his theory by following the four stages of learning which are: experience, reflect, conceptualise and plan. Having a pattern to follow helps human being to achieve their knowledge and success. However, with those examples he believes we must pass through cycle first before you can accomplish something in life, this is the knowledge we acquired in other to progress. However, effective learning only occurs when a learner can execute all four stages of the model. Therefore, no one stage of the cycle is effective as a learning procedure on its own. Kolb explains that different people naturally prefer a certain single different learning style. Various factors influence a person's preferred style. For example, social environment, educational experiences, or the basic cognitive structure of the individual. I understand his ideology that there must be a plan or something to follow, so we can be more focused to acquired knowledge and skills retained but not everybody that will commit to this step. In this case time management is very important to enable me to be more organised.
Edward Thorndike
The classic example of Thorndike’s S-R theory was a cat learning to escape from a “puzzle box” by pressing a lever inside the box. After much trial and error behaviour, the cat learns to associate pressing the lever (S) with opening the door (R). This S-R connection is established because it results in a satisfying (escape from the box). The law of exercise specifies that the connection was established because the S-R pairing occurred many times (the law of effect) and was rewarded (law of effect) as well as forming a single sequence (law of readiness).
Thorndike (1905) introduced the concept of reinforcement and was the first to apply psychological principles to the area of learning. v His research led to many theories and laws of learning, such as operant conditioning. Skinner (1938), like Thorndike, put animals in boxes and observed them to see what they were able to learn.
The learning theories of Thorndike and Pavlov were later synthesized by Hull (1935). Thorndike's research drove comparative psychology for fifty years and influenced countless psychologists over that period.
