Implications
Here are some practical implications of theories analyzed here together with links to their source and context.
Behaviorism
Potential to learn leads to frustration if not satisfied.
Connectionism
Negative reinforcement (punishment) does not really lead to any kind of learning.
Connectionism
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Long-term memory and knowledge organization
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Representations in the long-term memory can be stored as logogens (verbal stimuli) or imagens (non-verbal stimuli).
Dual coding theory
In order to acquire knowledge into long-term memory, it has to complete the time-consuming process of
consolidation. During that time, new knowledge is vulnerable to trace decay and retroactive/proactive interference.
A Brief History of Human Memory Systems Research
A schema is a hierarchical mental framework humans use to represent and organize remembered information.
Schema theory
A script is a mental framework for representation of complex event sequences.
Script theory
Working memory and cognitive architecture
Human working memory has a limited capacity of 7±2 or 4±1 chunks of information. A chunk is an unit operated as a whole and it has a different meaning for an expert and for a novice.
Human Working Memory
Human working memory has four components: phonological loop, visuospatial sketchpad, episodic buffer and central executive. Visuospatial sketchpad and phonological loop allow parallel processing of visual and auditive information.
Human Working Memory,
Cognitive load theory
Since working memory has a limited capacity learning won't occur if that capacity is exceeded.
Cognitive load theory
Prior knowledge
Meaningful learning won't occur unless the learner possesses necessary prior knowledge.
Assimilation theory
Comprehension and retention depend mostly on the schemata the reader already possesses.
Schema Theory
The meaning is not conveyed by the teacher and is not in (educational) information. Rather meaning is derived by the student from his existing knowledge (schemata) and its interaction with presented information.
Schema Theory
Meaningful learning
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Learning occurs through interaction of learner's prior knowledge (knowledge schemes), ideas and experience.
Constructivism
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Meaningful learning won't occur unless the new ideas are presented in a clear way that enables their relating to other ideas.
Assimilation theory
The teacher should advise students how and in which context to apply and transfer the just gained knowledge in the world outside the classroom.
Conditions of learning
The teacher should provide guidance to students in discussion, answer their questions and offer them additional materials on topic.
Conditions of learning
Starting point for any learning is experience, yet different people learn better using different learning styles. One of the classification of these styles is to abstract or concrete experience or conceptualization.
Experiential learning
Instructional design principles
Modality principle - learning will be enhanced if presenting textual information in an auditory format, rather than in visual format, when it is accompanied with other visual information like a graph, diagram or animation.
Cognitive theory of multimedia learning
Redundancy principle - capacity of both human information channels can unnecessarily be overloaded by redundant information presented through both channels.
Cognitive theory of multimedia learning
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Temporal contiguity principle - simultaneous presentation of related information should be most similar to the way human mind operates and has provided good experimental results, same as presenting related multi-modal information with very short time differences.
Cognitive theory of multimedia learning
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Synthesizers - (diagrams, images or other) enable easier meaningful integration and assimilation of new knowledge into existing knowledge.
Elaboration theory
Concept maps - visual representation of the relationships between concepts.
Concept mapping
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Advance organizers - introductory material presented before the learning material at a higher level of abstraction, generality, and inclusiveness.
Assimilation theory
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Humanist dimension of learning
Learning is a natural desire, a mean of self-actualization and development of personal potentials. The importance of learning lies in the process, not outcome.
Humanism
We cannot teach another person directly; we can only facilitate his learning. This should be the goal of the educational process and teachers through realness, prizing and empathy.
Facilitation theory
Students should be invited by their teachers to develop their potentials. People, places, policies, programs and processes related to the educational process should be maximally inviting.
Invitational learning
Connectivist dimension of learning
Since knowledge is nowadays rapidly growing and changing, the process of learning should not be focused on acquiring more knowledge into or from each of available information sources, but on connecting to them and maintaining those connections.
Connectivism