Week 4: Perspectives on Learning
Introduction
So far in this course, you have examined the many ways in which individuals develop, and you have considered multiple influences on learning, including culture and community. Essential also to understanding the psychology of education is the study of theories of learning, which include cognitive, behavioral, and social-cognitive theories.
This week, you will begin looking at learning as a process and consider these various schools of thought as well as explore the constructivist approach, which is vital to experiential and meaningful learning.
Learning Objectives
A student will:
- Compare declarative and procedural knowledge and make connections to conditional knowledge
- Describe metacognition and how it can be used to enhance learning
- Explain and analyze constructivist principles
- Compare cognitive and behavioral views on learning
- Explain how researching and summarizing articles broadens and deepens the perspective of educational psychology
Learning Resources
Required Resources
- Course Text: Educational Psychology
- Chapter 7, “Behavioral Views of Learning” (pp. 243-263)
- Chapter 8, “Cognitive Views of Learning” (pp. 280-315)
- Chapter 9, “Complex Cognitive Processes” (pp. 316-328)
- Chapter 10, “Social Cognitive Views of Learning and Motivation” (pp. 346-366)
Optional Resources
- PowerPoint Presentation: Behavioral vs. Cognitive Views of Learning
http://psych.fullerton.edu/navarick/behavcog.ppt#258,3 - Web site: Constructivism
http://carbon.ucdenver.edu/~mryder/itc_data/constructivism.html - Web site: Constructivism as a Paradigm for Teaching and Learning
http://www.thirteen.org/edonline/concept2class/constructivism/index.html
Analysis of a Learning Experience
This week, you have examined various perspectives and influences on learning. Consider the ways cognitive and behavioral perspectives on learning, as well as concepts such as self-regulation and self-efficacy, might provide insights into a specific learning experience you have had. First, bring to mind a learning experience that was meaningful to you, and then consider the following questions:
• How might cognitive and behavioral perspectives on learning help you to explain and understand this learning experience?
• What was the role of self-efficacy and self-regulation in the learning experience? What factors influenced your self-regulation and sense of self-efficacy?
• From a cognitive and behavioral perspective, how might this learning experience have been enhanced or improved?
With these thoughts in mind:
By Day 3:
Post:
• A brief description of a real-life learning experience.
• An analysis of the experience that includes behavioral and cognitive elements of the learning and the role of self-regulation and self-efficacy, as well as the factors influencing them.
• Your ideas about how this learning experience might have been enhanced or improved, using concepts presented in the Learning Resources.
