What is Learning

1
What is Learning?

• Learning is a relatively permanent change in
  behavior that results from experience.
• Its based on an association between stimuli and
  responses.

I think Moms using the can opener.
2
The Principles of Learning

• Learning is a change in mental state. Change
  occurs in the learner.
• Seen only through observation.
• Learning involves a change in behavior.
• Results from experience (repetition).
• Can be applied or transferred to a new situation.
• All 5 senses contribute to learning.

3
Classical Conditioning

• Ivan Pavlov was a Russian scientist
• Wanted to study how dogs responded to stimuli
  like food.
• Salivation at the sight of food is expected.
• Can we get the dog to salivate at the
  anticipation of food?
• Can we get the dog to respond to an inappropriate
  stimulus?
• Pavlovs discovery leads to classical
  conditioning.

4
Classical Conditioning

• The basic idea
• Stimulus elicits response.
• S ? R

Example When the bell rings, the students leave!
5
Alphabet Soup

• Unconditioned stimulus (UCS) stimulus that
  causes a response that is automatic, not learned.
  (p.130)
• For example, you naturally startle if you hear an
  unexpected loud noise, like a firecracker. (Like
  in a cafeteria) The firecracker would be the UCS.

6
Alphabet Soup

• Unconditioned response (UCR) is the response
  that occurs naturally after the UCS. (p.130)
• So, if you heard a firecracker, the UCR would be
  you being startled.

7
Alphabet Soup

• Conditioned Response (CR) is a learned response
  to a stimulus that was previously neutral, or
  meaningless. (p.130)
• If you do track and field, you learn to expect a
  gun going off to start the race. The CR in this
  example would be you running.

8
Alphabet Soup

• Conditioned Stimulus (CS) is a learned stimulus.
  (p.130)
• So, with the track and field example, the gun
  would be the CS.

9
Alphabet Soup

• Neutral stimulus (NS) is a stimulus that
  produces no specific response other than focusing
  attention.
• For example, the announcement bell gets your
  attention, but it doesnt really make you stop
  talking.

10
AlphabetSoup

• The letters you need to know are....
• Unconditioned stimulus (UCS)
• Unconditioned response (UCR)
• Neutral stimulus (NS)
• Conditioned stimulus (CS)
• Conditioned response (CR)

11
Formula
In Other Words
An unconditioned stimulus elicits an
unconditioned response
UCS ? UCR
A neutral stimulus paired with an unconditioned
stimulus elicits an unconditioned response
NS UCS ? UCR
A conditioned stimulus elicits a conditioned
response
CS ? CR