Applications of
Learning Theory
Piaget:
Theory of
Cognitive Development
Systems of actions that help us organize
our thinking. Application: Sequence activities in a step-by-step order to help students focus on how to complete
complex processes (anchor charts for complicated mathematical processes).
Stages of development in J/I
Concrete Operational: Application: Students struggle to understand hypothetical situations & developing empathy, "How would you feel if..."
Formal Operational: Students begin to develop an
understanding of hypothetical situations & think through complex ideas and begin to think from a variety of perspectives (How might a teenager think of climate change? What would an older person think of climate change?). Students can think about these situations differently.
Brofenbrenner:
Bio-ecological model
Macrosystem
Culture's definition of what is acceptable behaviour. Application: A group of boys to reinforce what it means to be "men" play rough and tumble games at recess, while the girls prefer to sit and talk. In this context, the students reinforce the stereotypes and the social condition of manhood and womanhood.
Exosystem
The media definitions of what is socially acceptable.
Mesosystem
An in-school team meeting conference to support a child's well-being in the school (interaction between adults to support learning).
Microsystem
The factors or institutions that directly impact an individual's identity (e.g., healthcare services, school, peers, family, religious institutions).
Cognitive Views of Learning
Information Processing Model
Holds that students can only do one cognitively demanding activity at a time. Using learning goals to focus student attention.
Working memory: How many instructions can a student keep in their brain at one time? Chunking and blocking instructions into different pieces to focus energy.
Central Executive: The planning and resource allocation of resources. For students who struggle with this area, provide students with a list of tasks to complete at a time.
Phonological Loop: Speech & sound-related system for rehearsing words & sounds in short-term memory to transfer into long-term memory. Students engage in a think-aloud process during Math class, especially when completing complex tasks.
Retaining information
Maintenance rehearsal: Repeating information or refreshing information in visuospatial sketchpad. In the minds on phase of a 3-part math lesson, the teacher refreshes the student's knowledge.
Elaborative rehearsal: Connecting information to remember with something you already know. Making text-to-text/text-to-self connections
Chunking: Grouping individual bits of information. Application: The teacher groups similar problem types together in the same instructional cycle (the teacher teaches a unit exclusively on patterning).
Types of knowledge
Declarative knowledge (What do students know)
Application: A student knows the steps of kicking a soccer ball.
Procedural knowledge (What are students able to do?)
Application: A student can kick a soccer ball.
Self-Regulatory Knowledge (How can students manage their behaviour and feelings?)
Application: A student knows when it is appropriate to share information and when they should listen quietly.
Vygotsky:
Sociocultural Theory
Co-creation of knowledge & shared activities.
Application: Co-creating success criteria for
an upcoming assignment between
the teacher & the students.
Learning
Classical conditioning
A neural stimulus is paired with a stimulus that evokes an emotional or physiological response
The thought of having to present => : Causes students to be upset
Operant conditioning
Behaviours are learned as we operate on the environment: Antecedents & consequences: By studying (antecedent), for a test (behaviour), the student receives a good grade (consequence).
Student studies (antecedent)
Writing an exam (behaviour)
Application: A student studies for their test & receives a good grade.
Social Constructivism
Interaction, cultural tools & activity shape development & learning
General knowledge
How to read a book
Specific knoweldge
Completing specific Chemistry experiments in higher grades.
More knowledgeable other: Using instructional and scaffolded support to aid in student learning.
Using guided reading to help students practice reading comprehension strategies
Zone of Proximal Development
When students work collaboratively or in support with the teacher, they can accomplish more than they could individually. Using peer-editing and reciprocal teaching helps students to engage more fully in their learning.