Learning theories: Classical Conditioning & Gestalt Theory

Lourdes Machuca

AET/500

October 3, 2016

Emily Christiansen

What is a leaning theory?

Learning is an important part of the educational process. Learning happens without and effort and it is present even in our every-day activities. Throughout the time, there have been many psychologists and philosophers studying the nature of learning and they have come out with different theories to try to explain it.A learning theory is an explanation or model that describes how information is absorbed, processed and retained during learning.

Behaviorist and Cognitivist Theories

Behaviorism Overview

Its principal is stimulus-response.

Positive or Negative reinforcement.

Learner is passive. Learning defined as “a

change of behavior in the learner”.

Cognitivism Overview

In this theory, the learner is an information processor.

Learning goes beyond external; it is and internal process.

Cognitivism replaced behaviorism in the 1960s as the dominant paradigm.

The learner has the control of the process.

Classical Conditioning & Gestalt Theory

Behaviorism Cognitivism

Classical Conditioning It is also known as Pavlovian (as its researcher last

name: Ivan Pavlov) or respondent conditioning. It is a reflexive or automatic type of learning.

This theory refers to a learning procedure in which a biological potent (e.g. food) stimulus is

paired with a previously neutral stimilu (e.g. bell). (Rescorla,1988).

History and theorist of Classical Conditioning

First studied by Ivan Pavlov through experiments with dogs (Pavlov’s dogs, 1920s).

This theory became the foundation of behaviorism.

John B. Watson applied Pavlov’s model to human beings in 1921.

Watson’s experiment concluded that the classical conditioning model could cause some phobias in humans.

Learning Settings and Mode of Delivery

Consistent and repetitive stimuli from teacher to students.

Classical conditioning can be used to teach students what is expected from routine activities’ like clapping 2 times to get students attention.

Use of rewards is encouraged.

Instructor-led of one-on-one or small group settings.

Computer-based learning.

Gestalt theory Gestalt is a German word that means pattern or

form. Gestalt theorists propose that the experiences

and perceptions of learners have a significant impact on the way that they learn.This theory attempts to describe how

people tend to organize visual elements into groups or unified wholes when certain

principles are applied. (Koffka,2013) The human brain maps learning features to

understand the whole, instead of the sum of its parts .

History and theorist of Gestalt theory

The term “Gestalt” was created by German theorist Graf Christian von Ehrenfels who said that learning takes place as students were able to comprehend a concept in its entirety, rather than broken up into parts (Ehrenfels, 1937).

Max Wertheimer was one of Ehrenfels’ students and with his two assistants Wolfgang Köhler and Kurt Koffka studied the use of a tachistoscope and its effects.

Learning Settings and Mode of Delivery

As an instructor, deliver a holistic lesson.

Harmony in the classroom is important so that the students will be comfortable exchanging ideas.

Teachers should encourage their students to discover the relationship of the elements that make up a problem

Experiments or laboratory sessions are activities that can be used as a discovery method.

A traditional classroom environment will allow student to interact and exchange ideas.

Self-study is also encouraged.

Small or large group settings mediated by an instructor.

Computer-based simulations.

Workshops, role plays.

References Learning Theories. (2005-2016). Retrieved fromhttps://www.learning-theories.com/ Wikipedia. (2016). Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classical_conditioning Ehrenfels, C. V. (1937). On Gestalt-

qualities. Psychological Review, 44(6), 521. Shippensburg University. (2000). Retrieved from http://webspace.ship.edu/cgboer/gestalt.html