learning - Learning - Neuroscience, Basic learning processes, Learning methods, Learning which alternative methods exist

The acquisition of knowledge and/or behavioural tendencies as a result of specific experiences in an individual's life. It is distinguished from behavioural changes due to motivation (an individual's varying physiological state, needs, desires) or maturation (the growth and development of body structures and functions, such as the appearance of sexual responsiveness at puberty). Imprinting, habituation, and conditioning are examples of very general widespread types of learning. Psychological learning theories aim to discover the general laws and properties of such simple, universal processes. Some cases of learning, however, are thought to involve more unusual special-purpose systems, such as song-learning by many birds, and language acquisition by children.

Learning causes a change of behavior that is persistent, measurable, and specified or allows an individual to formulate a new mental construct or revise a prior mental construct (conceptual knowledge such as attitudes or values).

Education can be defined as the conscious attempt to promote learning in others (but see Education for other definitions.) Traditionally, analysis of this attempt has centered around direct teaching on the part of teachers. In what constitutes a paradigm shift, however, people now note that learning can be promoted in ways that go beyond direct instruction by a teacher -- education now centers around creating a viable, productive learning environment, regardless of how teacher-centric that environment might be. Edutainment also called 'e-learning' are new methods and practices that enabled learning in faster, more efficient and more entertaining ways.

Learning - Neuroscience

Thinking can be thought of as a network of neurons firing in a very specific pattern.

In order to learn a skill, such as solving a Rubik's cube quickly, several factors come into play at once: - Directions help one learn the patterns of solving a Rubik's cube - Practicing the moves repeatedly and for extended time helps with "muscle memory" and therefore speed - Thinking critically about moves helps find shortcuts, which in turn help speed up future cubes. - Occasionally revisiting the cube helps prevent loss of skill

See also forgetting curve

See also Cognitive Science

Basic learning processes

The most basic learning process is imitation, one's personal repetition of an observed process, such as a smile. Thus an imitation will take one's time (attention to the details), space (a location for learning), skills (or practice), and other resources (for example, a protected area).

Bloom's Taxonomy divides the learning process into a six-level hierarchy, where knowledge is the lowest order of cognition and evaluation the highest:

Knowledge is the memory of previously-learned materials such as facts, terms, basic concepts, and answers.

Attention Habituation Sensitization

Classical conditioning Operant conditioning

Vicarious learning Communication

Learning methods

Intro

We learn through via different ways. For example:

Informal learning is learning things in our day-to-day situations (if we don't look in front of us while walking, we learn that we run into things and that might be dangerous). Formal learning is learning that takes place within a teacher-student relationship, such as in a school system. Non-formal learning is organised learning outside the formal learning system. For example: learning by coming together with people with similar interests and exchanging viewpoints, in clubs or in (international) youth organisations, workshops.

The educational system may use a combination of formal, informal, and non-formal learning methods.

Non-Formal learning methods

Learning outside the formal learning system. Typically funding is offered to projects where groups, youth groups with a similar interest develop a joint workshop so that their members may be able to meet each other, exchange viewpoints during non-formal learning sessions and informal learning during a meal, for example. http://www.youthforum.org/en/our_work/citizenship2.html [EN][FR]

In-Formal learning methods

Learning from life, during a meal at table with parents...

Formal learning methods

Are the methods used in the official education system, with a teacher-student relationship.

Learning by example

Example can be a motivation for learning. Child's play is another method for learning by the example of other children, who naturally gain satisfaction by playing the role of teacher or mentor to a less-experienced child.

The sandbox (sandpit) in a playground is an example of a location where children can learn by experience.

Learning "how to learn" is a skill, which can be taught to others, by example.

Learning by teaching

Main article: Learning by teaching
Learning by teaching is a method of teaching which allows teachers to share new lesson content with little groups of students who prepare their part in order to teach this content to the rest of the class.

Learning by worked examples

Often there are worked examples in books that show exactly how the author solved, step by step, a particular problem, for example, in mathematics.

Learning which alternative methods exist

Sometimes different methods can be applied to solve a particular problem.

Learning which shortcuts exist to solve specific problems

Sometimes shortcuts exist that can reduce by many hours the solution of practical problems.

Theories on Learning

Experiential learning Kolb's research found that people learn in four ways with the likelihood of developing one mode of learning more than another. In Kolb's 'experiential learning cycle' model, learning is through:

concrete experience observation and reflection abstract conceptualisation active experimentation

Other dimensions of learning

Here are a few theories and subcategories of learning:

Cognition Experiential education Erudition Formulating knowledge for learning Mathematical formulations of learning Inquiry education Instructional technology Motor learning Language education Latent learning

Lifelong education Learning music by ear Learning disability Learning psychology Learning styles Learning theory (education) Organizational learning Observational learning Rote learning