P 2, MODULE - 1

REFLECTING ON TEACHING LEARNING PROCESS

Teaching Learning process is the heart of education. On it depends the fulfillment of the aims and objectives of education. It is the most powerful instrument of education to bring about desired changes in the students.

LEARNING
Gates: Learning is modification of behaviour through experience. Crow Crow : Learning involves the acquisition of habits, knowledge and attitude. Skinner : learning is acquisition and retention. Encyclopedia: Learning refers to growth of interest, knowledge and skills and to transfer these to new situation.

TEACHING
Teaching is defined to be an interactive process, initially involving classroom talk, which takes place between a teacher and the pupil and results into certain definable activities. (Edmund Amidon)

Different Learning Theories

Behaviourist School of Psychology Cognitivist School of Psychology Humanistic School of Psychology

Behaviourist Theory
Thorndike Trial & Error Theory of Learning Ivan Pavlov - Theory of Classical Conditioning B. F. Skinner Theory of Operant Conditioning

Thorndikes Experiment

Thorndike Trial & Error Theory (1874 -1949)

Stages in the process of learning 1. Drive: Hunger intensified at the sight of food 2. Goal: To get food by getting out of the box 3. Block: Closed door 4. Random Movements: Tried and Tried 5. By Chance Success: 6. Selection: The correct way to manipulate the latch. 7. Fixation: Learnt the proper way.

Conclusion
1. Learning involves trial and error 2. Learning is result of formation of connections. 3. Learning is incidental, not insightful 4. Learning is direct, not guided by ideas.

Laws of Learning
Law of Readiness: (Physical / Mental) Law of Effect: (Rewards / Punishments) Law of Exercise / Practice : (Remembering / Forgetting)

Educational Implications
Learning takes place better when the learner is involved in the process. Hence activity based learning. Reinforcement : (Law of effect) is important for learning and unlearning to happen. Motivation is essential to encourage learning Skills can be developed only by practice

Ivan Pavlov - Theory of Classical Conditioning (Stimulus - Response) (1849 - 1936)

Ivan Pavlov - Theory of Classical Conditioning (Stimulus - Response) (1849 - 1936)

Conclusion
Learning is habit formation and is based on the principle of a association and substitution. It is simply stimulus response type of learning where in place of a natural stimulus like food an artificial stimulus like the sound of bell can evoke a natural response (salivation).

John Watson (1878 -1958)

Demonstrated the role of conditioning in producing as well as eliminating emotional responses such as fear. Experiment with an eleven month old child named Albert and Peter.

Conclusion
Association plays a major role since the individual responds to an artificial stimulus because he associates it with the natural stimulus. The responses are so conditioned that he no longer needs a natural stimulus to evoke the natural response.

Educational Implications
Fear, love and hatred towards a subject or teacher can be created through conditioning. Our behaviour in the shape of interests, attitudes, habits, moods etc is fashioned through conditioning. Conditioning helps in learning the desirable behaviour and also to eliminate the undesirable

B. F. Skinner- Experiment

B. F. Skinner- Experiment

B. F. Skinner Theory of Operant Conditioning (Stimulus Response - Reinforcement) Revolted against the no stimulus no response theory. The subject is made to behave in response to stimulus situation. The organism is passive here but man is not the victim of environment. He believed Throndikes ideas of rewards for a response.

Theory of Operant Conditioning

Behaviour is shaped, continued and maintained by its consequences. It is operated by the organism and maintained by its results. It refers to a kind of learning process where a response is made more frequent by reinforcement.

 Reinforcement can be of two types positive and negative. Positive reinforcement for response to occur more often Negative reinforcement to discontinue the occurrence of certain responses Basic ideas shaping , chaining, generalization and discrimination.

Application of Operant Conditioning

Programmed Learning Material. It is so designed that it produces fewer chances for failure an more opportunities to success. Learner gets rapid feedback concerning the accuracy of learning. Learner is able to learn at its own pace

Characteristics of Behaviouristic Approach

1. Learning brings about changes in behaviour 2. Learning is the result of continual interaction of the individual with the environment. 3. The behavioural changes are objectively observable 4. Chief emphasis is to bring a change in behaviour by conditioning 5. Environment is more important

 Conditioning is composed of stimulus response. The chief method of learning is conditioning. Positive Reinforcement is essential for retention of desirable behaviour and negative reinformation is essential to eliminate the undesirable behaviour.

Implications to classroom
It points out the necessity of interaction with environment. Hence teacher must provide appropriate environment in classroom enrich the teaching with activities, field trips, demonstrations etc.