Date : August 30, 2013

Course Requirement : Reaction Paper (Cognition and Learning Process)

Submitted To : Dr. Alberto Valenzuela

Submitted by : Mrs. Fritzie A. Clemente

Course : Master in Educational Management

Currently, there is a plethora of theories pertaining to the learning process. However, a common denominator
among these theories of learning is the relationship between the stimulus and response, or more commonly known as
the S-R relationship. From the ground breaking study of Pavlov that resulted to the development of the Classical
Conditioning Process, to the modern day cognitive learning approach, an important factor remains the same; and that is
how a particular stimulus can elicit response as a gateway to the learning process.

For those who subscribe to the cognitive approach, they believe that an individual must have a thorough
knowledge and understanding of the various elements of the learning process, before he or she will be able to learn
complicated motor and problem solving skills. These learning elements would include:

1. Perceptual learning or insight learning which involves the change in perception in which the learner
comes to know something about the stimulus that he was not aware of before. In perceptual learning,
the individual does not attach a permanent meaning to a particular stimulus.

2. Sign learning happens when an individual attaches a permanent meaning to a particular stimulus. From
a student’s perspective, this may mean that a good behaviour in class would always mean better grades,
although this may not always be the case. However, from the student’s point of view, he attaches a
permanent meaning to the relationship between response (good behaviour) and stimulus (good grades).

3. Programmed learning is the more formal learning process were there exists a formal learning sequence.
A very common example would be the classroom setting where lessons are introduced in a systematic
and step by step manner.

4. Multiple-response learning happens during task mastery as in the case of a piano lesson where
mental/motor and muscular coordination is required.

5. Associative learning can be more associated with classical conditioning where linkage is measured by the
frequency of response to a particular stimulus. A good example will be a student’s willingness to actively
participate in recitation when it results in praises from his peers and teacher.

Reference:

Book

Zulueta, F & Maglaya, E 2009, Foundations of Education, National Book Store, Quezon City