11cognitive theories of learning

7/27/2019 11Cognitive Theories of Learning

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Cognitive Theories ofLearning

-Gestalt Theory-Kohlers Theory (Insight)

-Field Theory

- -Discovery Learning

-Meaningful Theory

-Tolmans Theory


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A. Gestalt Theory

-oneness and integrated wholeness Started by Max Wertheimer in 1902

Regards the human being as a unitary

whole.

Gestalt theory emerged as a reaction tothe behaviorist theories ofPavlov and

Watson which focused on mechanicalstimulus-response behavior.
http://www.lifecircles-inc.com/Learningtheories/behaviorism/Pavlov.htmlhttp://www.lifecircles-inc.com/Learningtheories/behaviorism/Watson.htmlhttp://www.lifecircles-inc.com/Learningtheories/behaviorism/Watson.htmlhttp://www.lifecircles-inc.com/Learningtheories/behaviorism/Pavlov.html


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Gestalt Principles/Laws of

Perceptual Organization1. Good Continuation

(Continuity)

states that learners"tend to continue

shapes beyond their

ending points".


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2. Similarity

states that thingswhich share visualcharacteristics suchas shape, size, color,texture, value ororientation will beseen as belongingtogether.


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3. Closure

incomplete figures tendto be seen as complete.

4. Proximity

states that "objects orshapes that are close toone another appear toform groups".


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5. Law of Pragnanzdeveloped by Koffka

states that of all thepossible organizations

that could be perceivedfrom a visual stimulus,the one that will mostlikely to occur is the

one that possesses thebest, simplest and moststable


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B. Kohlers Insight Theory


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Kohler proposed the view that insight followsfrom the characteristics of objects under

consideration. His theory suggested thatlearning could occur by "sudden comprehension"as opposed to gradual understanding. This couldoccur without reinforcement, and once it occurs,

no review, training, or investigation arenecessary. Significantly, insight is not necessarilyobservable by another person.


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Process of Insight Learning

1. Surveying relevant conditions of thepresented stimulus.

2. Determining the instrumental value of atool as a means of achieving a goal.

3. Eureka experience,


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Dependent Factors of aha or

Insightful Learning1. Experience

2. Intelligence

3. Learning situation

4. Initial efforts

5. Repetition & generalization


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C. Field Theory

Developed by Kurt Lewin

a theory that emphasized the importance of individual

personalities, interpersonal conflict, and situationalvariables.

Focuses on the psychological field/ life space of anindividual.

Behavior of an individual at a given moment is theresult of existing forces operating simultaneouslyin his life space


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Hall and Lindzey (1978: 386)

Behaviour is a function of the field thatexists at the time the behaviour occurs.

Analysis begins with the situation as awhole from which are differentiated thecomponent parts

The concrete person in a concretesituation can be representedmathematically.


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Lewins view on motivation

A person is motivated by psychologicaltensions produced by the interaction of a

psychological self with a psychologicalenvironment.

the life space of an individual consists ofeverything one needs to know about the person in

order to understand his behavior in a specificpsychological environment at a specified time.


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D. Discovery Learning

Developed by Bruner

States that learning involves therearrangement and transformation ofmaterial that lead to insight.

Involves 3 processes: acquisition,transformation, evaluation.


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a.Acquisition

-the process of obtaining newinformation and understanding thembetter than the previously known.

b. Transformation

-manipulation of information to removedifficulty or to fit new ones.

c. Evaluation

-the process of finding out whether theinformation acquired is appropriatelyutilized.


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Bruners Theory as Applied to

Learning1. Understanding

2. Readiness

3.

Independence

4. Motivation


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Potential Advantages &Disadvantages

Potential Advantages:

-active engagement of thestudent in the learning process

- Fosters curiosity

- Enables the development oflifelong learning skills

- Personalizes the learningexperience

- Provides high motivationbecause students have the

opportunity to experiment - Builds on the student's prior

knowledge and understanding

Potential Disadvantages:

- Confuses the student if noinitial framework is available

- Inefficient and timeconsuming

- Leads to student frustration


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E. Meaningful theory

Developed by David Ausubel,is a psychologist,who advanced a theory which contrasted

meaningful learning from rote learning. concerned with how individuals learn large

amounts of meaningful material fromverbal/textual presentations in a school setting

(in contrast to theories developed in the contextof laboratory experiments).


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What is meaningful learning?

It is the acquisition of new meaning

2 important ideasimplies that the materials to be learned

are potentially meaningful

the acquisition of new meanings refersto the process by which students turnpotentially meaningful material intomeaningfulness .


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A major instructional mechanism proposedby Ausubel is the use ofadvanceorganizers:

abstract, general overview of newinformation before actual learning isexpected.

11cognitive theories of learning

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