Learning Theories

Question 1

What is learning?

Answer 1

The acquisition of knowledge, skills, and attitude to achieve changes in
behaviour, performance or potential

Question 2

What are learning theories?

Answer 2

conceptual frameworks that lead to the acquisition of knowledge,
skills and attitude to achieve changes in behaviour, performance or potential

Question 3

Why do we learn theories? (4)

Answer 3

1. Provide a basis to understand, explain, describe and predict the learning process
2. Benchmark learning, knowledge, and teaching
3. Can be applied by educators according to different learner needs and contexts, by making informed decisions about choosing the right instructional and assessment practices
4. Help students to understand why various teaching models are used by educators
5. Help you as a student to become an educator

Question 4

What is the name given to adult learning theories?

Answer 4

andragogy

Question 5

Why are child learning theories different than adult learning theories?

Answer 5

Adults are differently experienced, motivated, oriented, and in need to learn, than children

Question 6

Where are adult learning theories derived from?

Answer 6

educational psychology theories of learning

Question 7

What is the significance of andragogy having similar principles to that of children’s learning?

Answer 7

this makes the learning a life-long “continuum” with different purposes at different stages

Question 8

What are the characteristics of adult learning? (6)

Answer 8

1. Are independent and self directing
2. Have (various degrees of) experience
3. Integrate learning to the demand of their everyday life
4. Are more interested in immediate problem centered approaches
5. Are motivated more by internal than external drives
6. Value mutual respect

Question 9

What are the three instrumental learning theories?

Answer 9

1. Behavioural theories
2. Cognitivism
3. Experiential learning

Question 10

What do behavioral theories focus on?

Answer 10

how a stimulus in the external environment leads to an individual’s change of behaviour

Question 11

What is the main concept of behavioral theories?

Answer 11

Positive consequences, or reinforcers, strengthen behaviour and enhance learning, while negative consequences, or punishers, weaken it

Question 12

What are educators responsible for when conducting learning driven by behavioural theories?

Answer 12

teacher-centred approach to teaching: controlling the learning environment, to achieve a specific
response

Question 13

How can behavioural theories be applied?

Answer 13

• Teachers demonstrate desired behaviours, and learners observe these behaviours.
• Educators then observe learners and evaluate their competence using scoring rubrics to provide reinforcement

Question 14

What does cognitivism focus on? (2)

Answer 14

1. the learner’s internal environment and cognitive structures
2. how people acquire, perceive, remember and communicate information

Question 15

How is cognitivism taught?

Answer 15

through verbal or written instructions through accumulation of explicit and identifiable knowledge

Question 16

What processes is cognitivism learnt through? Give examples of which (7)

Answer 16

mental and psychological processes, such as insight, information
processing, perceptions, reflection, motivation, metacognition and memory

Question 17

What does the teacher direct when teaching through the theories of cognitivism?

Answer 17

the learner’s mental capacity

Question 18

How is cognitivism applied?

Answer 18

1. Design conceptual material systems, such as concept maps

2. Concept maps help students to recall foundational concepts and understand their complicated relationships

Question 19

What does experiential learning focus on?

Answer 19

the idea that learners learn when they interact with the authentic environment, through experience

Question 20

What are the four phases of experiential learning

Answer 20

1. concrete experience
2. reflective observation
3. abstract conceptualisation
4. active experimentation

Question 21

What are teachers responsible for when conducting experiential learning?

Answer 21

facilitating and organizing opportunities for learners to learn
from real experiences in real contexts

Question 22

How is experiential learning applied?

Answer 22

Practice of professional skills in real life contexts

Question 23

What does Humanistic Theories/ Facilitative Learning Theories focus on?

Answer 23

self-directed learning

Question 24

What is the adult’s job when learning through humanistic/ facilitative learning theories?

Answer 24

plan, manage, and assess their own learning to accomplish their potential, values, self-motivation, goals and independence in learning

Question 25

What is the purpose of learning through humanistic/ facilitative learning theories?

Answer 25

self-actualisation and self-fulfilment, so that | learners reach their maximum achievable potential

Question 26

What is the role of educators during humanistic/ facilitative learning?

Answer 26

facilitators of learning

Question 27

How are humanistic/ facilitative learning theories applied? (2)

Answer 27

* Technology-based education that focus on self-direction and self-assessment * Continuous professional development (CPD) programs, which are designed to support life long learning

Question 28

What does transformative learning theories/ critical reflection focus on?

Answer 28

transformation of meaning, context and long-standing propositions

Question 29

What does transformative/ critical reflection learning theories empower students to do?

Answer 29

identify and challenge the validity of their embedded | assumptions: “frames of reference”

Question 30

how does learning occur during transformative learning/ critical reflection theories?

Answer 30

when new knowledge becomes integrated into existing knowledge

Question 31

What do learners do throughout the course of transformative learning/ critical reflection theories

Answer 31

they maintain their original embedded assumptions, but continue to challenge and change some of their perspectives, beliefs, and prior assumptions

Question 31

What do learners do throughout the

Question 32

How is transformative learning/ critical reflection theories applied?

Answer 32

Critical incident analysis and group discussions, where teachers encourage learners to reflect on their assumptions and beliefs, share ideas and examine specific reflective practices

Question 33

What is reflection on action?

Answer 33

learners think about and evaluate the level of relevance of the activities, views, and processes after they happen

Question 34

what is reflection in action?

Answer 34

reflection on the difference between previous knowledge and new experiences while the activity and thinking are happening , which will lead the learners to test their own knowledge, through investigation

Question 35

How does the educator's feedback about the reflective practice and thinking important when learning through the reflective models?

Answer 35

it helps learners to identify their strengths, weaknesses, and learning needs

Question 36

How are the reflective modals applied?

Answer 36

they encourage the development of reflective practice and learning systems, which develop a learner’s knowledge and skills

Question 37

What are the three social theories of learning?

Answer 37

1. Zone of proximal development 2. Situated cognition 3. Communities of Practice

Question 38

When it comes to the social theories of learning, what are the facilitators of learning? (5)

Answer 38

social interaction, the person, context, community, and the desired behaviour

Question 39

How are social theories of learning applied?

Answer 39

Trainees learn to perform particular responsibilities in a specific manner during their practical training, by observing the behaviours and performance modelled by their preceptors, and then adopting them

Question 40

When it comes to learning communities/ work-based learning, where does informal learning take place?

Answer 40

Working environments

Question 41

How do students learn within learning communities/work-based learning?

Answer 41

Students apply theoretical knowledge, and acquire practical skills and clinical reasoning and problem-solving skills, when placed in appropriate practice settings

Question 42

What are communities of practice?

Answer 42

groups of people who share a passion, defined by knowledge rather than task, for something they do, and learn how to do it better as they interact regularly

Question 43

What is the implication of motivational models of learning?

Answer 43

that adult learning is associated with two fundamental elements: motivation and reflection

Question 44

How are motivational models applied?

Answer 44

Intrinsic motivation can be enhanced by meeting students’ needs, by facilitating positive relationships, and by providing students with constructive feedback

Question 45

What does constructivism focus on?

Answer 45

n that individuals perceive, interpret and explain the same object differently and construct new knowledge through the interaction between their previous knowledge

Question 46

how does constructivist theory approach learning?

Answer 46

holistically, focusing comprehensively on the internal cognitive mechanisms and on social interaction

Question 47

When it comes to constructivism, what is the role of the teacher?

Answer 47

a facilitator who guides learners using student-centered instruction, so that students have active rather than passive roles

Question 48

How is constructivism applied? (2)

Answer 48

1. Constructivism guided medical education strategies, such as group discussions, journal clubs, course portfolio development, and critical appraisal. 2. Application taught concepts in real situations through knowledge recontextualisation

Question 49

What is four sources of intrinsic motivation?

Answer 49

Challenge, curiosity, control, fantasy