Learning SR aE NMODUETONREE east ‘Any response that an organism is not born with is sai i Jeamed. From infancy, we are constantly leaming aes Sees and developing beliefs and attitudes. Learning goes on not only ina formal situation but throughout life, Learning, right or wrong, brings about relatively permanent and ephemeral changes in the behaviour of a person, Learning is a key process in human behaviour. It is revealed in the spectrum. of changes that take place as a result of one’s experience. Learning may be defined as “Any relatively permanent change in behaviour or behavioral potential produced by experience” (Gordon, 1989). Behavioural changes occurring due to the use of drugs or fatigue or emotions or alterations in motives, growth, or maturation are not considered learning. Systematic changes resulting due to practice and experience and relatively permanent are illustrative of learning. 71 SOME DEFINITIONS OF LEARNING , ‘According to Woodworth (1945), “Any activity can be called learning so far as it develops the individual (in any respect, good or bad) zo aes bin alenbetatins196 2 Exrenienra PsvenoLooy mn in, motives. “Reinforcement” und the effects of drugs oF alte hes. “Renfree an the foc fat reinforcement, extinction will occu. Pte of behaviouriam Wing wo emerge, sooner oF lac, the behaviour Misia means tha for Jv) occurences wil improve earning. The notion fp and epee (lion of oer behavioural changes of @ elativity also a ee considered to be instances of learning, such a5 kind that are articular species (for exampl tendencies of p: (for example, flying in birds). According to Underwood (1966), responses or the enhanced execution of old ones.” A Pome cconding to Crow and Crow (1973), “Learning is the acquisition of knowledge, and attitudes. It involves new ways of doing things, and it operat an individwal’s attempts to overcome obstacles or to adjust to new situa represents progressive changes in behaviour... . It enables him to satisfy in to attain goals. ‘According to Bandura (1977), “Learning is a change in acquired informal and hence in performance potential) that can occur just by virtue Of bet observer in the world ‘According to Morgan and King (1978), “Learning is defined as any relatiy permanent change in behaviour which occurs as a result of practice and exper ‘Learning is a long lasting change “Learning is the acquisition ‘According to Bootzin (1991), .rganism’s disposition to behave in certain ways as a result of experiences” endutin According to Crooks and Stein (1991), “Learning is a relatively change in potential behaviour that results from experience. ‘According to Baron (1995), “Any relatively permanent change in beh potential resulting from experience is called learning.” According to Mangal (2002), “Learning stands for all those changes modifications in the behaviour of the individual which he undergoes during his) time. q The term “learning” refers to the process by which experience or pract results in a relatively permanent change in behaviour. Learning is such a pet and continual process that we can easily overlook how much learning We CHARACTERISTICS FEATURES OF THE LEARNING PROCESS The process of learning has certain distinctive characteristics such aS following: (i) Learning connotes change: Learning is a change in behaviour, fc or worse. Throughout her or his life, an individual acquires new p of inner motivations or attitudes, and of overt (external) behaviour. result from the changes taking place within her or him. At the same she or he may be strengthening attitudes and behaviour patterns thatthe process of formati established, (©) developing interests, att nt (iii) Learning always involves ie sen peta an event occurring in a one event happens, example, one Jearns Kind of experience certain sequence on a numt ; umber of occasi then it may be felled by cram other evens For that i ; that dinnet irae Rae ped Inthe hosel after sonst, it means ave learned that bell signalled the serving of the food. It i te leads to the Oe eet ces Tepeated experience of satisfaction that to learning, forexuplaten meena telon creeecn oad and gets het or his Aegean matchstick on the matchbox’ side an experi ei ve carcil inbeadin ape (iv) Learning is a change that i cs a emotions, etc, are not leaming, assented gna eaation, (v) The behavioural changes that occur due to learning are relatively permanent. Exactly, how long cannot be specified but it must last a fairly Jong time. Whatever is learnt is stored in memory and therefore becomes enduring, long lasting, and permanent. (vi) We cannot see learning occurring directly, We estimate it by measuring performance. (vii) Learning is an inferred process and is different from performance. Performance is an individual’s observed behaviour or response of action. Let us understand the term “inference”. For example, you are asked by your teacher to remember a multiplication table. You read that table ‘umber of times. Then you say that you have leamt the table. You are asked to recite that table and you are able to do it. The recitation of that table by you is your performance. On the basis of your petformance, the teacher infers that you have leamed that table. Learning that can be inferred from performance is called potent learning. Leaming becomes potent with practice and training, Whereas, leaming that cannot be easly inferred from performance is called latent learning. ‘Learning has taken place but has not yet manifested itself in changes perfomance toes in the absence of changes in behaviour. This form of pate usually iin ea renarigutestgessnecemeist TREO 0 ae i i unconsciously; it ma (viii) Learning is engaged in consciously of lously,/7i6) ‘eh “informal” in that it represents Tearing as an aspect of an individual's aa ‘ f ' to the extent that the learning daily situational experiences; of OrmE eves planed procedures situation is organised according {0 and expected outcomes.198. 2S ExrenoenraL, PsvcHOLOGY (ix) The direction of the let learning applies to the addition of knowledge 0 that @ ig possessed in a particular area of knowledge, the imp skill in which some dexterity has been achieved, or the stren Gevelopment attitudes and modes of thinking. It is vertical fare covered at higher levels so as to move toward perfection,” a Horizontal learning means that the leamer is widening gz Jeaming horizons, competence in new forms of skills, gain co interests, discovering new approaches to problem-solving, and ie different attitudes toward newly experienced situations and a Learning is horizontal if more facts are covered at the same = earning proceeds both vertically and horizontally, that which is 7 integrated and organised as functioning units of expanding experi a (x) Learning is cumulative, with no breaks, until a hundred per cent n : has been achieved. "iq (xi) Learning is an active process in which the leamer is fully awa the learning situation, is motivated to learn, has intention to lear participates in the learning process. A passive person cannot lear, (xii) Learning is goal-directed. The nature of learning is p meaningful and effective learning, the purpose of learning must be: vivid, and explicit. (xiii) Much of our learning consists of the formation of habit patterns are stimulated by conditions that surround us to imitate the behar others or to try out various forms of response. (xiv) Enforced learning can have equally undesirable effects upon young 1B FACTORS AFFECTING LEARNING (i) Maturation: A child who has not reached a sufficient stage of n and physical development when she or he tries to perform school characteristic of that stage and that, which entails a higher development. However, with proper readiness building procedure, development difficulties can be overcome. (ii) Experience: Previous experience determines a child’s diness Jeaming. Prior exposure to basic skills is necessary before complex are tackled. (iii) Relevance of materials and methods of instruction: Research has that children are more ready to learn materials that meets their n fits their already established interests. They are more ready to lea of spelling, reading and writing when they have fun doing them,