Assignment 2 - Learning Theories

Learning can be seen as a process of involving 3 steps, Encoding, storage and retrieval. Reception is the way the person recieves the data. It can be in the form of relaying of information from instructor to student as is in the classroom. It can also be via other means such as electronically, or through mass media, as is discussed in the first week. It also refers to how the learner consolidates information.

Storage refers to the where in the memory system the knowledge is embedded in. And the human memory system is made up of And the way the learning process is sensory memory (lasting only seconds), short-term memory (lasting only minutes) and long term memory (which lasts a lifetime). And it takes different actions for information to be stored in the respective memory.

Retrieval would refer to the different aspects of recalling the images back to memory. And this would also specify the amount or type stimulus that is required to bring the knowledge out from the abyss of the human memory, the activities engaged to aid in the retrieval process.

And learning theories may also be embedded in the way the human brain attains and retains information.

I would likened Behaviourism very much to the carrot-and-stick approach. At which the individual recieves the information, stores and retrieves at the reaction of certain stimulis. The information that is accepted and and retained are those which reacting to the stimuli producing positive consequences. The information that has been rejected or have not been recording are those whose reacting to the respective stimuli have produced negative consequence. And upon viewing the stimuli, the learner would retrieve the appropriate results.

Cognitivism in my opinion looks in detail the way the learner uses the new information to build upon preceeeding knowledge and structures.This often involves a different encoding and storage process. And as the learner begins to interact more often with the information, he or she rehearses the information more often and the information tends to be stored in the long term memory.

Socioculturism relates to learning in terms of human interaction and activity. However, I do see parallels between Socioculturalism and Behaviourism in that in the course of interaction, the learner responds and reacts to the stimulis. Of course as Wortham said, the difference in the theories lie the unit of focus.

I think in solving the different learning problems that a learner faces, all three theories can be applied all at the sametime. And more often that not, we go through these theories without knowing.

For example, when a parent disciplines the child for a miscreant behaviour, the child, at his tender age, tends to learn that particular behaviour as unacceptable. However, in the interaction between the parent and teh child, the child is instructed and counciled.

This is therefore similar in dealing with social issues. With the constitutions in place, criminal activity is prosecuted and the sentence levied. All three theories can be applied so as to "teach" the public. Severe punishments such as incacceration or caning, through behaviourism teaches that crime is unacceptable. Councilling and rehabilitation can often help a criminal (or a drug addict for this matter)learn about their deviant behaviour through socioculturalism. And of course as a preventive measure, public service announcement serves as cognitive educative devices.

As such, it would not be complete and almost impossible to isolate the 3 theories in order to understand a person's learning process totally.