ED 671 Learning Theory Strand Introduction

(all units in strand required)

 

 

ED 670 Home

ED 671 Home Moodle

Email Mark

Curricular challenges intro: (all required)
670 unit 1.a
670 unit 1.b
670 unit 1.c
670 unit 1.d
Curricular solutions intro: (pick one)
670 option A
670 option B
670 option C
670 option D

Learning theory intro: (all required)

671 unit 1.a
671 unit 1.b
671 unit 1.c
671 unit 1.d

Social development intro: (all required)

671 unit 2.a
671 unit 2.b
671 unit 2.c
671 unit 2.d

COMPLETE THE SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT STRAND FIRST BEFORE MOVING ON TO THE LEARNING THEORY STRAND.

Introduction to the Learning Theory Strand

This unit deals with different theoretical perspectives on learning - what it means to learn, how learning occurs, what accounts for motivation... several issues that teachers need to know about. The trick is to remember that these are "lenses" or "ideas" about learning argued by researchers in the field of educational psychology. The game is not to pick the set of ideas that works best for you - rather, you should pick and choose from the ideas and pieces of these theories that inform your work as a teacher. Researchers and theoreticians can afford to stick to one set of ideas and explore the consequences of holding one set of beliefs. Teachers, on the other hand, live in a pragmatic world and we should feel free to borrow from multiple theories and perspectives in ways that best inform our practice. That said, pick and choose the ideas and implications that work best for you - steal liberally from multiple perspectives on learning.

The three major perspectives and the units are:

Here's the whole goal... to understand enough about different theories of learning to know that you will draw on different perspectives or theories differently... depending on who and what it is you are teaching. For example, if you want kids to memorize the capitals of Asian countries... that's a very different goal (and requires a different way of thinking about teaching and learning) than if you were teaching about democracy and participating in democratic governance. Know what I mean? You will.

Be dilligent in seeking to understand the major elements of each of the perspectives as it is these details with which you will build your Learning Theories assignment and your Examination of Current Institutional and/or Classroom Practices assignment (see 671 home).

Send your Learning Theories Assignment to Mark via email by midnight on Wednesday, August 22nd.

Send your Examination of Current Institutional and/or Classroom Practices assignment to Mark via email by midnight on Friday, August 24th.