Human Learning
By Charlotte Galef
What is Human Learning?
First off, learning is not just restricted to school related situations.
Human Learning is experienced through Conditioning, the Social Learning Theory, and the Information Processing Theory.
In fact, learning occurs when experience causes a change in a person's knowledge or behavior. It is crucial to demonstrate learning with reinforcement: by seeing, hearing, and physically writing it.
1. Conditioning
Operant conditioning was discovered by Skinner, and focuses on the rewards and punishments when conditioning. This form of conditioning is how people learn through the effects of their intentional responses, in a more voluntary way. Operant conditioning focuses on the specific actions you produce, as well as the consequences that follow which can be either reinforcement or punishment (Woolfolk 256-257).
Classical Conditioning
As shown in the video below, the child gradually becomes more irritated and startled by the nerf gun (the stimulus), which was shot directly after the quack noise (the neutral stimulus). The quack noise conditioned the boy to hide in fear (the conditioned response) of the predicted nerf gun.
Image source below.
Operant Conditioning
Another example of operant conditioning is when – using positive reinforcement – a parent gives their child $10.00 for every A+ they get in school. This gives the child incentive to work hard in school in order to be rewarded with money (the presented stimulus).
Image source below.
Retrieved from YouTube, February 9. 2016.
2. Social Learning
Retrieved from YouTube, February 9. 2016.
3. Information Processing Theory
Sensory memory is a brief system (milliseconds) of which whatever information 1st hits one’s senses – you hold onto that information – either iconic or echoic (Woolfolk, 294).
Working memory is the point where new information is briefly stored and then merged with previous long-term memory in order to strengthen one’s understanding of things or solve problems (Woolfolk, 297).
Long-term memory is relatively permanent and has an unlimited capacity of memory storage. Consolidation is used to encode new information into long-term memory, along with types of rehearsal to ensure a deep processing of information (Woolfolk, 304).
Information Processing Theory Blank Model
Information Processing Theory Filled Model
An example of the information processing theory is when a teacher tries to receive their students’ attention, the teacher specifically uses cues – such as flickering the lights or holding their hand up high – to indicate she is about to begin teaching and for their to be silence.
Another example is if a new employee meets a group of staff for the first time and has to remember each individual’s name while making conversation. The name is briefly stored in working memory, however it can be rehearsed (reminded) and repeated in order to store it into long-term memory.
Retrieved from YouTube, February 9. 2016.
Information Processing Model
Input: new information entering the brain
Forgotten: some short term memory is not consolidated into long term memory, it is lost or forgotten.
Working Memory: brief, temporary memory storage, "the workbench" with limited capacity.
Attention Rehearsal: referring back to newly learned information.
Consolidation: conversion of information from short term to long term memory, very complex.
Long Term Memory: all enduring memory stored.
Retrieval: bringing information from long term memory to short term memory.
Works Cited
Image:
BraveNewWorldBackgroundPylePer1 -. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Feb. 2016. <http://bravenewworldbackgroundpyleper1.wikispaces.com/Psychology+Behind+Brave+New+World>.
ISTC 301: Integrating Instructional Tech /. PB Works, n.d. Web. February 8. 2016. <http://integratingtech301.pbworks.com/w/page/20021638/Strengths%20and%20Weaknesses%20of%20Operant%20Conditioning>.
Video:
Retrieved from YouTube, February 9. 2016.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfTTm-rgFFI
Retrieved from YouTube, February 9. 2016.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQnDq_bVBUw
Book:
Woolfolk, Anita. (2015). Educational psychology (13th ed.) Pearson Education.