The Learning Process and Memory Flashcards
What is learning?
The process of obtaining knowledge through experience that leads to relatively permanent changes in behaviour.
What are the important characteristics of the learning process?
Learning is not only about obtaining knowledge but also making meaning out if the experience;
Learning has taken place when a person knows something that he/she did not know before or can do something that he/she could not do before
Learning is the process or processes observable Changes in behaviour in situations involving practice, teaching and life experience.
Changes in behaviour arise from both formal learning situations and life experience
Verbal and non-verbal learning is distinguished according to what helps learners achieve:
Verbal learning is learning a language for example.
Non-verbal learning is learning how an aircraft engine works.
Learning involves capturing information of an academic or scholastic nature, as well as moral codes, attitudes, customs, habits and skills.
What are the three approaches to learning?
Associative
Cognitive
Social and moral
What is meant by associative learning?
According to the associative approach to learning, behavioural changes are analysed in terms of stimuli (S) and responses (R).
It is a behavioural approach.
This approach considers the link between rewards with certain behaviour and the display of the behaviour.
What are the three main forms of associative learning?
Classical conditioning:
This learning process creates a conditioned response through associations between an unconditioned stimulus and a neutral stimulus.
Certain situations, objects and stimuli can be so similar that an organism responds to one in the same way as it has learnt to respond to another.
Operant conditioning:
Operant conditioning emphasises on the response and the appropriate reinforcement of that response.
Trial-and-error learning:
Is a process where an individual attempts various actions until a successful solution is found. Mistakes are made and corrected, gradually leading to the desired outcome.
What are the characteristics of classical conditioning?
Generalisation:
Occurs when a conditioned response is triggered by stimuli similar to the conditioned stimulus.
Discrimination:
When an organism learns to respond only to a specific conditioned stimulus and not to similar stimuli.
Extinction:
Removal of reinforcements in order to disencourage a specific behaviour. This happens when the conditioned stimulus (sound of the bell) is repeatedly presented without the unconditioned stimulus (food).
Spontaneous recovery:
Reappearance of a previously extinguished conditioned response after a rest period without further conditioning but is weaken.
What are the two types of reinforcement?
Positive reinforcement:
Encouraging desirable behaviour by providing a reward. For example, monetary rewards, praise, and social recognition can reinforce specific behaviours.
Negative reinforcement:
Removing an unpleasant element in response to desirable behaviour. For instance, reducing oversight when an employee’s performance improves
What is the factors of operant conditioning?
Wait for the desired response:
The most common method is to wait until the person displays the desired response and then to reinforce it. The disadvantage is that one sometimes has to wait a long time before the response is displayed.
Increased motivation:
The use of increased motivation can enhance the probability of obtaining the desired response.
Reduction Of number of potential responses:
If one restricts the environment in which the response is made, only certain responses, including the desired one, can be given. In this way, there is a greater chance of obtaining the desired response. The person is then allowed to respond voluntarily within the restricted environment.
Verbal instructions:
The person carrying out the experiment can explain response is required by means of verbal instructions.
Reinforcement of all responses:
A very effective way of obtaining the desired response is to reinforce smaller parts of it.
Physical role play (modelling):
Demonstrating the desired response is also very effective.
What is the process of trial-and-error?
A state of tension caused from biological urges and physiological needs must exist before learning can take place.
The motivation that the person feels as a result of the tension releases energy that can be used in a of spontaneous reactions.
The successful reactions are now reinforced through the feeling of satisfaction that is gained from the reduced stress. The unsuccessful actions become extinct as there is no reward for (or reinforcement Of) the reactions.
The repetition of the actual behaviour means that the effective response is being increasingly reinforced and ineffective activities are progressively eliminated.
What is meant by cognitive learning?
This approach is based on information processing perspective and is more concerned with what goes on in the learner’s head. Learning takes place by means of conscious cognitive processes rather than mechanical conditioning processes.
What are the forms of cognitive learning?
Latent learning:
Latent learning takes place without the need for reinforcement. The skill (or knowledge) was fully mastered the first time it was reinforced. The learned knowledge is stored and only becomes evident when there is motivation or a need to use it.
Learning by insight:
Insight learning involves a sudden, spontaneous realization of how different elements of a problem fit together. Because the solution becomes instantly clear after struggling with the problem, even while engaged in unrelated tasks.
On what three levels does remembering take place?
Sensory storage
Short-term storage
Long-term storage
Retrieval of information
What are the aspects of insight learning?
Insight is generally associated with the intelligence of the learner. Insight requires intelligence and decisive action. People who are unable to display insight often resort to a trial-and-error approach, Insight remains in force without repetition. If facts are forgotten, very little recall is needed before insight into the problem is regained.
Immediate and clear learning or understanding that takes place without explicit trial-and-error testing.
What meant by long-term memory?
