Introduction to Learning Theories

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Mayur Vartak Batch A (28)

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What is learning

Learning is a change in behavior for better or worse distinguishes between maturation and experience distinguishes between short-term changes in performance and actual learning

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Definition of Learning

Learning can be defined as any relatively permanent change in behavior that occurs as a result of practice or experience.

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Learning Theory

Behaviorism Social Learning Theory Cognitivism

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Behaviorism
Confined to observable and measurable behavior

Classical Conditioning - Pavlov Operant Conditioning - Skinner

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Classical Conditioning
"Classical Conditioning" is defined as "a process of learning by temporal association in which two events that repeatedly occur close together in time become fused in a person's mind and produce the same response" (Comer, 2004)

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Behaviorism
Classical Conditioning - Pavlov

Pavlov's drooling dogs

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Pavlovs apparatus for studying the conditioned salivary (Drooling)

Example Classical Conditioning

You eat a new food and then get sick because of the flu. However, you develop a dislike for the food and feel nauseated whenever you smell it. This example isclassical conditioningbecause nausea is an automatic response. The flu sickness is the US. The nausea is the UR. The new food is the CS. The 4/14/12 nausea to the new food is the CR.

Behaviorism Operant / Instrumental Conditioning

Instrumental behavior is the behavior that occurs because it was previously instrumental in producing certain consequences. It is also called goal-directed behavior

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Behaviorism Operant / Instrumental Conditioning

Skinner studied operant conditioning by conducting experiments using animals which he placed in a Skinner Box which was similar to Thorndikes puzzle box.

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Reinforcement
Reinforcementis any event that strengthens or increases the behavior it follows. There are two kinds of reinforcers:

Positive reinforcersare favorable events or outcomes that are presented after the behavior. In situations that reflect positive 4/14/12 reinforcement, a response or

Example Operant Conditioning

A professor has a policy of exempting students from the final exam if they dont maintain perfect attendance during the quarter. His students attendance increases dramatically.

This example isoperant conditioningbecause attendance is a voluntary behavior. The exemption from the final exam is a negative reinforcement because something is taken away that increases the 4/14/12

Punishment

Punishment, on the other hand, is the presentation of an adverse event or outcome that causes a decrease in the behavior it follows. There are two kinds of punishment: Positive punishment, sometimes referred to as punishment by application, involves the presentation of an unfavorable event or outcome in order to weaken the response it 4/14/12

Social Learning Theory

Social learning theory focuses on the learning that occurs within asocial context. It considers that people learn from one another, including such concepts as observational learning, imitation, and modeling.

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General principles of social learning theory Follows:

1.

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People canle arn by obser

2. Learning can occur without a change in behavior. Behaviorists say that learning has to be represented by a permanent change in behavior, in contrast social learning theorists say that because people can learn through observation alone , their learning may not necessarily be shown in their performance. Learning may or may not result in a behavior change.
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3. Cognition plays arolein learning. Over the last 30 years social learning theory has becomeincreasingly cognitivein its interpretation of human learning. Awareness and expectations of future reinforcements or punishments can have a major effect on the behaviors that people exhibit.
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4. Social learning theory can be considered a bridge or a transition between behaviorist learning theories and 4/14/12 cognitive

Necessary conditions for effective modeling

1.

Attention - In order to learn, you need to be paying attention. Retention - The ability to store information is an important part of the learning process.

2.

3.

Reproduction - Once you have paid attention to the model and retained the information, it is time to actually perform the behavior you 4/14/12 observed.

Example: SLT in the Classroom

Collaborative learning and group work Modeling responses and expectations Opportunities to observe experts in action
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Example

The most common (and pervasive) examples of social learning situations are television commercials. Commercials suggest that drinking a certain beverage or using a particular hair shampoo will make us popular and win the admiration of attractive people. Depending upon the component processes involved (such as attention or motivation), we 4/14/12 may model the behavior shown in

Cognitive Learning

Cognitive learning refers to changes in the Way information is processed as a result of experience a person or animal has had. Cognitive maps latent learning, insight learning, and imitation are described as example of cognitive learning. cognitive learning interpretations of classical and instrumental conditioning are discussed.
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