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Learning Theories
Classical Conditioning
Classical conditioning is the process of linking an unconditioned stimulus to a conditioned stimulus. The famous classical conditioning experiment by Pavlov resulted in a dog beginning to salivate whenever a bell was rung. This was achieved by ringing the bell every time food was brought for the dog, thus the dog was conditioned to associate the sound of the bell with food. Since food naturally elicits salivation in a hungry animal, this is the unconditioned stimulus. By comparison, the sound of a bell does not normally elicit salivation; therefore the bell is the conditioned stimulus.
Examples of classical conditioning are most easily observed around children. The first time a child is given a chocolate chip cookie, they may not salivate. Instead, due to a lack of experience the child may cautiously chew a tiny piece to test whether they like it or not. If they do, and I've never met a child who doesn't like chocolate chip cookies, then they may be conditioned to associate unrelated stimuli with the promise of a chocolate chip cookie. The smell of cookies in the oven might cause the kitchen to be invaded by a hungry mob of children demanding to know when the batch will be finished. These children will likely be salivating and claiming to be desperately hungry. If a child has experienced Oreo cookies and a cold glass of milk, they may begin to salivate as soon as they see and hear an Oreo cookie package...
Yawning is generally assumed to be triggered by the brain's need for more oxygen and this occurs most often during the late evening as arousal declines in preparation for sleep. For evening movie addicts, the end of a movie elicits yawning because they have been conditioned to associate ending credits with a reduced state of arousal. The unconditioned stimulus is a reduced state of arousal in preparation for sleep and the conditioned stimulus is the movie's ending credits.
Operant Conditioning
In contrast to classical conditioning, operant conditioning is the process of associating voluntary behavior with defined outcomes. A rat can be taught to navigate a maze by rewarding correct turns with pieces of cheese. This process is called positive reinforcement and the cheese the reinforcing stimulus. With enough time, a rat can be taught to make all the correct turns with a single reward at the maze exit. In contrast, the process of negative reinforcement involves encouraging a behavior through removal of an unpleasant stimulus, which might be silencing an unpleasant sound if the rat makes the correct turn in the maze. Positive punishment is the process of discouraging behavior by rewarding it with an aversive stimulus, while negative reinforcement involves removing something pleasant as punishment.
The taste of…
This idea of guidance is important; children need the framework and support to expand their ZPD. Since the ZPD defines the skills and abilities that children are in the process of developing, there is also a range of development that we might call a "stretch goal"(Mooney). For Vygotsky, supplying the child with a combination of theoretical and empirical learning methods is a more robust way to ensure cognition. This leads
A dog hits a lever when it sees a light that signifies that it will be shocked. A person takes medicine before having certain foods that he or she knows will cause a stomachache (Sidman, 2006, p. 136). Above, the differences between operant and classical conditioning were noted. However, sometimes the distinction is blurred. In biofeedback, for instance, psychologists feed back information to the patients regarding their physiologic processes, which
The role of language was less visible in Skinner, other than as one, among many reinforcement tools. Vygotsky stressed language acquisition as a vital, constant, but again, not always predictable and sequential part of different individual's learning, and that the word could be a microcosm of a human consciousness, if the right words could render a concept uniquely comprehensible to individuals in a particular learning environment. Thus in Skinner's
It focuses on internal thoughts, expectations, and feeback loops. We develop our own unique "style" of learning through practice, but also a predisposition toward, reading it aloud; playing wih toys and manipultors. This combines with styles like aural, visual, and kinesthetic to form a basis for individual learning theory. Summary 4 -- Observational Theory -- Learning through imitation - It is very easy to see how observational learning is important
The Applicability of Learning Theory Learning is a complex process by which an individual acquires and modifies their knowledge, behaviors, attitudes, and skills through study, instruction or experience. Theories provide a framework for understanding how learning occurs and the factors that influence its effectiveness. Learning theories are complex and comprehensive principles that explain how individual learn, develop, and progress (Rosser-Majors, 2017). They acknowledge that human beings learn differently and attempt to
Abstract Theories of learning are critical for informing pedagogical practice and promoting a deeper understanding of human behavior and mental processes. Behaviorism offers corresponding theories of learning that focus mainly on observable and measurable outcomes in performance. Cognitive theories of learning emphasize numerous complex thought processes such as assimilation and accommodation of new material, and also takes into account emotional aspects such as motivation. Behavioral learning theories and cognitive learning theories