WOLFGANG KOHLER (January 21, 1887 – June 11, 1967)

Personal Background

Wolfgang Kohler was a German psychologist born in Revel, Estonia on January 21, 1887
Kohler taught at the University of Frankfurt
Famous work: The Mentality of Apes, 1917
In 1909, Kohler earned his Ph.D. and worked at the Psychological Institute in Frankfort-am-Main and
was introduced to Max Wertheimer and Kurt Koffka.
Wertheimer, Koffka and Kohler laid the foundation for gestalt psychology
In 1921, Kohler became the director of the psychological institute and professor of philosophy at the
University of Berlin.
He conducted an experiment in which insight learning was observed in animal behavior.

Wolfgang Kohler was a German psychologist born in Revel, Estonia on January 21, 1887. Kohler taught at the
University of Frankfurt, and among his many accomplishments was his work published in the The Mentality of
Apes, 1917. In 1909, Kohler earned his Ph.D. and worked at the Psychological Institute in Frankfort-am-Main
where he was introduced to Max Wertheimer and Kurt Koffka. Together, these three men would lay the
foundation for gestalt psychology. In 1921, Kohler became the director of the psychological institute and
professor of philosophy at the University of Berlin.

https://study.com/academy/lesson/wolfgang-kohler-biography-contributions-to-psychology.html
Supplementary reading: https://history-of-psychology.readthedocs.io/en/latest/kohler.html

Theory Contributed to the Study of Education

THEORY DEVELOPMENT
In the 1920s, German psychologist Wolfgang Kohler was studying the behavior of apes. He designed
some simple experiments that led to the development of one of the first cognitive theories of learning,
which he called insight learning.
In this experiment, Kohler hung a piece of fruit just out of reach of each chimp. He then provided the
chimps with either two sticks or three boxes, then waited and watched. Kohler noticed that after the
chimps realized they could not simply reach or jump up to retrieve the fruit, they stopped, had a seat,
and thought about how they might solve the problem. Then after a few moments, the chimps stood up
and proceeded to solve the problem.
In the first scenario, the problem was solved by placing the smaller sticks into the longer stick to
create one very long stick that could be used to knock down the hanging fruit.
In the second scenario, the chimps would solve the problem by stacking the boxes on top of each
other, which allowed them to climb up to the top of the stack of boxes and reach the fruit.
Learning occurs in a variety of ways. Sometimes it is the result of direct observation; other times, it is the result
of experience through personal interactions with the environment. Kohler called this newly observed type of
learning insight learning. Based on these observations, Kohler's theory of insight learning became an early
argument for the involvement of cognition, or thinking, in the process of learning.
INSIGHT LEARNING
Insight learning is a type of learning or problem solving that happens all of a sudden through
understanding the relationships of various parts of a problem rather than through trial and error.
Insight learning also involves the “I have found it!” feeling or “Eureka”.
Insight learning is sometimes called an epiphany, also expressed as the “Aha Moment”.
Insight learning refers to the sudden realization of a solution of a problem.

https://www.slideshare.net/THIRUMAGALKD/insight-learning-kohler

Insight learning is the abrupt realization of a problem's solution. Insight learning is not the result of trial and
error, responding to an environmental stimulus, or the result of observing someone else attempting the
problem. It is a completely cognitive experience that requires the ability to visualize the problem and the
solution internally - in the mind's eye, so to speak - before initiating a behavioral response.
Insight learning is considered a type of learning because it results in a long-lasting change. Following the
occurrence of insight, the realization of how to solve the problem can be repeated in future similar situations.

https://study.com/academy/lesson/insight-learning-wolfgang-kohler-theory-definition-examples.html

Factors Affecting Insight

Experience – Past experiences help in the insightful solution to problems.
A child cannot solve the problems in Mathematics unless he is well acquainted with its symbolic language.
Intelligence - the more intelligent the individual is, the greater will be his insight
Learning Situation – how insightfully the organism will react depends upon the situation in which he has to
act.
Some situations are more favorable than the others for insightful solution.
Initial Efforts or Trial and Error - Insightful learning has to pass through the process of trial and error.
Whatever an activity may be, attempts or efforts or trials always lie at its root. This opens the way for insightful
learning.
Repetition and Generalization – after having an insightful solution to a particular type of problem, the
organism tries to repeat it in another situation, demanding similar type of solution.

https://educationposter.blogspot.com/2015/01/learning-by-insight-kohler.html

Four Stages of Insight Learning

But how does insight learning happen? Multiple models have been developed, but the four-stage model is the
most popular. The four stages of insight learning are preparation, incubation, insight, and verification.

Preparation
The process begins as you try to solve the problem. You have the materials and information in front of you
and begin to make connections. Although you see the relationships between the materials, things just haven’t
“clicked” yet. This is the stage where you start to get frustrated.

Incubation
During the incubation period, you “give up” for a short period of time. Although you’ve abandoned the project,
your brain is still making connections on an unconscious level.

Insight
When the right connections have been made in your mind, the “a-ha” moment occurs. Eureka! You have an
epiphany!

Verification
Now, you just have to make sure that your epiphany is right. You test out your solution and hopefully, it works!
This is a great moment in your learning journey. The connections you make solving this problem are likely to
help you in the future.

https://practicalpie.com/insight-learning/

Importance and Relationship of The Theory in Learning-Centered Teaching

INSIGHT LEARNING
This theory is related to the cognitive type of theory of learning. It was developed by Gestalt Psychologists. The
main exponents are Wolfgang Kohler, Kurt Koffka and Max Wertheimer.

This theory advocates that when a particular situations is being learnt, it does not help to leant it in parts puts
but it helps to learn it as a whole. Learning is an exploratory, purposive and creative activity but not a trial and
error method of activity. Learning means, “Reorganisation of the perceptual field”. Learning is dependent upon
intelligence of the individuals

Problem solving is essential to learning

Learners must be able to make meaningful connections
Learners respond to meanings to create their own intellectual connection
Learning happens inside one’s brain, it’s invisible

https://slideplayer.com/slide/9567488/

The results of the experiments are:

Learning is achieved not by trial and error method but on the chimpanzee’s intelligence.
The whole situation has to be understood along with the inner relations involved therein. One can
solve the problem through the experience gained.

Educational Significance of the Theory

This theory of learning is helpful in constructing a curriculum, structuring the instructional material
and deploying the teaching methods
The matter to be taught should be presented as whole. This theory emphasizes the unity organization
and the meaningfulness of a lesson.
What is to be taught should be organized logically. There should be no encouragement for learning by
rote memory.
The principle of the whole should be incorporated in the construction of the curriculum and syllabus.
Subject should be perceived as a whole.
The learners should be motivated and their interest and curiosity of the curriculum and syllabus.
Subject should be perceived as a whole.
The scientific methods as well as the analytical and problem-solving methods should be given greater
importance
This method stimulates the powers of imagination, discrimination and thinking.

https://edugandhigramruralinstitute.wordpress.com/kohlers-learning-theory/
Supplementary reading: https://www.psychestudy.com/behavioral/learning-memory/insight-learning
https://www.slideshare.net/Keiko528/insightful-learning-12043286

EXAMPLE OF INSIGHT LEARNING

Insight learning happens regularly in each of our lives and all around us. Inventions and innovations alike are
oftentimes the result of insight learning. We have all experienced the sensation of insight learning at one time
or another. It is sometimes called a 'eureka' or 'aha' moment. Whatever you call it, insight learning is often at
the root of creative, out-of-the-box thinking.

1. Preparation:
Can’t solve the physics problem initially.
Data gathering

2. Incubation
Problem put on hold
Problem work on unconsciously
3. Insight
Suddenly there is a mental representation of solution

4. Verification
Solution checked.

https://www.slideshare.net/Psyccounting/insight-learning