LEARNING

PRINCIPLES
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 NATURE OF LEARNING
Learning
◦ A process which brings about a change in the individual’s way of responding as a
result of practice or other experiences.
◦ It is a relatively permanent change in the behavior that occurs as a result of practice
or experience.
Essential aspect of this definition:
a. The term learning does not apply to temporary change in the behavior.
b. It does not refer to changes resulting from maturation or biological influences.
c. Can results from various as well as from direct experience.
d. Changes produce by learning is not always positive.
Nature of Learning:
1. Essential for survival
2. Learning takes place without realizing that we are learning.
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 FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO LEARNING
1.Physiological Factors
◦ Sense perception, physical health, fatigue, time and day of learning, food
and drink, age and atmospheric conditions.
2. Psychological Factors
◦ Mental health; motivation and interest; success, praise and blame;
rewards and punishment.
3. Environmental Factors
◦ Working conditions, organizational set-up
4. Methodology of Instructions
◦ Presentation and organization of material; special methods of learning
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THEORIES OF LEARNING
THEORY
◦ Is a set of related assumptions that allows scientists to use
logical deductive reasoning to formulate testable
hypotheses.

A. BEHAVIORISM
It studies how organisms learn new behaviors or modify
existing ones, depending on whether events in their
environments reward or punish these behaviors.
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LEARNING PROCESS
◦ The learning process is based on objectively observable changes
in behavior.
◦ Consequences that reinforce the desired behavior are arranged
to follow desired behavior.
◦ Teachers use behaviorism when they reward/punish student
behaviors.
Applications of this theory:
Drills Participation points Verbal reinforcements
Bonus points Establishing rules
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 B. COGNITIVISM
◦ It is based on the thought process behind the behavior.
◦ The changes in behavior are observed, but only as an indicator to
what is going on in the learner’s mind.
LEARNING PROCESS
◦ This is governed by an internal process rather than by external
circumstance.
◦ It involves the reorganization of experiences, either by attaining
new insights, or changing old ones.
◦ It is a change in knowledge which is stored in memory, and not just
a change in behavior.
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 Applications of this theory:
Chunking information Analogies
Discussions Real world examples
Problem-solving Mnemonics

C. CONSTRUCTIVISM
◦ Is based on the premise that we all construct our own perspective
of the world, based on individual experiences and internal
knowledge.
◦ Learning is based on how the individual interprets and creates the
meaning of his/her experiences.
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LEARNING PROCESS
◦ People resolve conflicts between ideas and reflect on
theoretical explanations.
◦ The process of adjusting our mental models to accommodate
our new experiences.
Applications of this theory:
Case studies Simulations
Researches Brainstorming
Collaborative learning
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LAWS OF LEARNING
LAW
◦ A generalized statement set after a number of observations.
A. Law of Association by Aristotle
i. Law of Similarity- when two things are very similar to each
other, the thought of one will often trigger the thought of the
other.
ii. Law of Contrast- the thought of something is likely to trigger
the thought of its direct opposite.
iii.Law of Contiguity- when we associate things that occur close
to each other in time or space.
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 B. Connectionism Theory
◦ Edward Lee Thorndike- formulated the basic concept of the
modern association theory (Connectionism Theory or the S-R
Theory).
i. Law of Readiness- the basic needs of the learner must be
satisfied before he or she is ready or capable of learning.
ii. Law of Exercise- constant repetition of response strengthens
its connection with the stimulus and disuse of response
weakens it.
iii.Law of Effect- learning is strengthen if the result leads to
satisfaction, but weakens if lead to annoyance.
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iv. Law of Primacy- the state of being first, often creates a
strong, almost unshakable impression and underlies the
reason an instructor must teach correctly the first time and the
student must learn correctly the first time.
v. Law of Intensity- immediate, exciting, or dramatic learning
connected to a real situation teaches a learner more than a
routine or boring experience.
vi. Law of Recency- states that things most recently learned are
best remembered.

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 MOTIVATION
◦Greek word: movere (to move)
◦It involves the question of why people behave, think
and feel the way they do.
◦It is having the desire and willingness to do something.
◦It is a need or desire that energizes and directs
behavior.

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INTRINSIC VS. EXTRINSIC MOTIVATION
◦Intrinsic Motivation is being driven more by interest,
satisfaction, and challenge than by external pressures
(Amabile & Hennessey, 1992).
◦Extrinsic Motivation is a desire to perform a behavior to
receive promised rewards or avoid threatened
punishment.
❖Incentives are environmental factors, such as external
stimuli, reinforcers or rewards that motivate our behavior.
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REINFORCEMENT
◦Any action or event that increases the probability that a
response will be repeated.
i. Primary Reinforcement- stimuli that increase the
probability of a response and whose value does not
need to be learned. (Basic necessities)
ii. Secondary Reinforcement- stimuli that increase the
probability of a response and whose reinforcing
properties are learned. (money, material possessions)

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 iii. Positive Reinforcement- a stimulus is given or added that
is desirable to the subject.
iv. Negative Reinforcement- removal of an aversive
stimulus.

PUNISHMENT- presentation of an aversive stimulus; it

decreases the behaviour.
i. Positive Punishment- presenting an aversive stimulus
after a response.
ii. Negative Punishment- removing a reinforcing stimulus
after a response.
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REFERENCES
◦ Kelly, J. (2012). The Peak Performance Center. Retrieved from
http://thepeakperformancecenter.com/educational-learning/learning/theories/
◦ Flight Literacy (2015). Retrieved from https://www.flightliteracy.com/thorndike-and-
the-laws-of-learning/
◦ Myers, D. G. (2014). Exploring Psychology Ninth Edition. New York City: Worth
Publishers.
◦ Psychology Discussion (n.d) Retrieved from
http://www.psychologydiscussion.net/learning/learning-theory/factors-influencing-
learning-education/2531

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