Week 3 Theoretical Foundations

Question 1

What was John Locke known for?

Answer 1

John Locke is known as the father of learning theory.

Question 2

Did John Locke argue for nature or nurture?

Answer 2

John Locke argued by nurture. He felt environmental influences have a significant impact on development.

Question 3

What was John Locke’s philosophy about social learning?

Answer 3

Experience, environment, and nurture; Locke believed children are shaped, molded, and taught by others and by the social environment

Question 4

What are the 4 ways that environment affects development according to Locke’s learning theory?

Answer 4

Associations
Repetition
Imitation
Rewards and punishments

Question 5

What are associations in learning theory?

Answer 5

Two ideas regularly occur together, so we cannot think of one without simultaneously thinking of the other

Question 6

What are repetitions in learning theory?

Answer 6

When we do something over and over, such as brushing our teeth, the practice becomes a natural habit, and we feel uneasy when we have failed to perform it.

Question 7

What are imitations in learning theory?

Answer 7

We are prone to do what we see others do, so models influence our character.

Question 8

What are rewards and punishments in learning theory?

Answer 8

We engage in behavior that brings praise, compliments, and other rewards; We refrain from those actions that produce unpleasant consequences.

Question 9

What is self-control in learning theory?

Answer 9

The main goal of education is self-control. Self-discipline requires fostering optimal physical health to provide the ability to have self-control. It also requires fostering discipline from infancy as early habits are difficult to break.

Question 10

What are the best rewards and punishments in learning theory?

Answer 10

Only reasonable behavior should be rewarded; never behavior that is unreasonable or self-indulgent. The best rewards are praise and flattery. The best punishment is disapproval.

Question 11

Should physical punishment be utilized according to learning theory?

Answer 11

Locke was opposed to the use of physical punishment as punishments due to undesirable associations, ineffectiveness as a punishment, and its over-effectiveness when it does work.

Question 12

Why should money or sweets be avoided according to learning theory?

Answer 12

Locke also opposed the use of money or sweets as rewards due to undermining the goal of education (curbing desire and submitting to reason).

Question 13

What should be done in small steps in learning theory?

Answer 13

Children’s fears should be eliminated by “gentle degrees” so that they can grow up to be brave adults.

Question 14

How should rules be taught in learning theory?

Answer 14

Strict rules with direct punishments and the use of commands are considered ineffective. Instead, children should be taught rules through exposure to models of good behavior and helping children practice good behavior.

Question 15

What are children’s special characteristics in learning theory?

Answer 15

Locke eventually came to the conclusion that children have their own cognitive capacities that set limits on what can be taught.

Question 16

How should academic instruction be approached in learning theory?

Answer 16

Locke argued for teaching material in ways that children enjoy, like games. When children resist learning through more child-focused teaching methods, they should work to ease children through learning instead of forcing them.

Question 17

Who did Locke’s learning theory influence?

Answer 17

Learning theory influenced Pavlov, Watson, Skinner, and Bandura

Question 18

What is Rousseau known for?

Answer 18

Rousseau is known as the father of developmental theory.

Question 19

Did Rousseau argue for nature or nurture.

Answer 19

Rousseau argued for nature. He disagreed with Locke’s early beliefs that children are blank slates. Instead, he asserted that children just had their own modes of feeling and thinking that have been predetermined by nature as to how they evolve.

Question 20

What was Rousseau’s philosophy about developmental theory?

Answer 20

Rousseau believed that children develop according to ‘nature’s design’, or according to ‘an inner biological timetable, e.g biological maturation.

Question 21

What is biological maturation?

Answer 21

The genetically determined, naturally unfolding course of growth

Question 22

What are Rousseau’s 4 stages of development?

Answer 22

Stage 1 - Infancy, birth to 2 years old: Sensory exploration
Stage 2 - Childhood, 2-12 years old: Autonomy establishment
Stage 3 - Late Childhood, 12-15 years old: Transition to Adolescence
Stage 4 - Adolescence: Establishment of Social Life

Question 23

How did Rousseau feel education should be approached?

Answer 23

• Nature should be allowed to be the guide for child development with development occurring at a pace driven by the child.
• The key to this approach is allowing children the autonomy to follow their natural inclinations towards fostering their own development.
  o Reliance is placed on internally driven processes to foster development through sense exploration.
  o Adults are responsible for providing age-appropriate boundaries and encouragement while allowing children to drive their own development and set their own standards of success for each stage of development.

Question 24

How did Rousseau’s views of development vary from others of his time?

Answer 24

Rousseau’s approach asserts that children are to be treated as children with their own needs and ways of learning. It reduces the amount of negativity associated with developmental learning by allowing time for childhood experiences while engaging the mind.
* Rousseau felt most approaches assert that children should be treated as adults, encouraging development by teaching as much adult knowledge as possible.
o This fast-paced forced development results in fostering a dislike of learning and producing a lack of interest and motivation.