Theories of Learning

1
Theories of Learning

• Areas that affect learning
• Development and concept of self
• Ideas about intelligence

2
Social Psychology and Learning

• Charles Horton Cooley and the Looking Glass Self
• We imagine how we appear to those around us
• We interpret others reactions
• We develop a self concept

3
Social Psychology and Learning

• George Herbert Mead (Chicago School of Sociology)
  and the Theory of Self and Role Taking
• We acquire a self through a 3 staged learning
  process
• Preparatory or imitation stage
• Play stage
• Game stage
• The self is composed of 2 separate parts
• The I and the Me

4
Social Psychology and Learning

• John Dewey also from the Chicago School, was a
  long time friend and colleague of Meads
• Argued that children cannot be understood as
  empty slates waiting for knowledge to fill them
  up. He advocated the child-centered approach to
  learning.

5
Constructivism and Learning

• Focuses on a new method of teaching that
  emphasizes active over passive learning where
  students learn by doing rather than observing
• e.g. group work (problem solving), discussions
  (dialogue between students and teacher and
  students), work stations

6
Intelligence and Learning

• Howard Gardner scholar at Harvard developed the
  Multiple Intelligences Theory (originally 7 were
  identified)
• Musical Intelligence Are able to distinguish
  sounds and subtle nuances of music
• Bodily-Kinesthetic Intelligence Physical
  movement with both fine and large muscles

7
Multiple Intelligences

• Logical-Mathematical intelligence The ability
  to process logical problems and equations
• Linguistic intelligence Ability to process
  language
• Spatial intelligence Ability to perceive
  images, comprehension of shapes and images in 3
  dimensions

8
Multiple Intelligences

• 6. Interpersonal intelligence Ability to
  understand and communicate with others
• 7. Intrapersonal intelligence Ability to
  understand and sense our self
• Recent additions
• 8. Naturalist intelligence Ability to identify
  and classify patterns of nature
• 9. Existentialist intelligence Ability to
  understand humankind in the big picture of
  existence

9
Criticisms of Gardners theory

• Its not new not groundbreaking, simply primary
  abilities that educators have always known about
  and acknowledged
• It isnt well defined how many intelligences
  are there?
• Its impractical educators have enough to do
  overcrowding, limited resources