Theories of Education

Objectives

01 Identify the meaning and the elements of the theories

02 The importance of these theories in education

03 Develop a plan to implement the use of these theories

 Learning Theories
 Learning theories attempt to explain how people learn.

 Frameworks that explain how people acquire and retain knowledge. They provide a
systematic way to understand how individuals process and respond to new information.

19th
Century 20th
Century
Different theories focus on different
aspects of the learning process
01 Cognitive (acquiring and storing information)

02 Behaviorism (reactions to external stimuli)

03 Connectivism ( recognizing and connecting information from various sources)

04 Constructivism ( constructed by each learner)

05 Humanism (students’ desire to learn and teach them how to learn

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Are there other theories in education

Transformative learning theory

Social learning theory

Experiential learning theory

Transformative Learning Theory
It is learning that occurs when our beliefs are changed (transformed) thereby
changing our entire perspective about a topic, issue, at situation.
the process of "perspective transformation" has three dimensions:
psychological (changes in understanding of the self)
convictional (revision of belief systems)
behavioral (changes in lifestyle)

is the expansion of consciousness through the transformation of basic

worldview and specific capacities of the self
 Jack Mezirow
developed transformative learning theory starting in 1978
Mezirow defines transformative learning as “ the process by which we transform our taken-
for-granted frames of reference (meaning perspectives, habits of mind, mind-sets) to make
them more inclusive, discriminating, open, emotionally capable of change, and reflective so
that they may generate beliefs and opinions that will prove more true or justified to guide
action” (Mezirow, 2000)

Types of learning according to Jack Mezirow

Communicative learning
Instrumental learning
 Constructivist theory
vs
Transformative Learning theory
Transformative
Constructivist - meaning is created through
- meaning is created from individual and learning, reflecting and dialogue
social experiences
Learning is a Process
Transformative Learning is a process, meaning that taking in and processing new
information takes time to developed

But Process Aren’t Always Easy….

sometimes, people experience disorienting dilemmas, where their new learning experiences contradict their old
learning experiences
The perspective transformation is explained
by Mezirow as follows:
 Four main Component
1 Experience – everything that occurred in our life
Critical reflection – an assessment that can lead to clearer
2 understanding by using collective experience to form a best judgment
Reflective discourse – identifying and challenging our assumptions about
3 things and can brainstorm alternatives

4 Action – a new perspective allows one to integrate new information into

his/her life
Three types of meaning Structures
Frame of reference – perspective that is created from our assumption and expectations

Habit of mind – set of assumptions that we have that help us filter and interpret our
different experiences

Point of view – our set of knowledge, belief, values and feelings toward different aspects
 The Transformative Learning Theory Includes High
Levels of Reflection
Change cannot occur and new habits of mind will NOT be created until the learner takes time to reflect

Mezirow lists three types of reflection:

 Content Reflection – thinking about the actual experience

 Process Reflection – thinking about ways to deal with the experience

 Premise Reflection – examining long held and socially construed assumptions,

beliefs and values about the experience or problem
Critiques of the Transformative Learning
Theory
 Little info available to practitioners

 Lack of attention to culture, context, and emotions

 Failure to account for significant role of other people in learning

 Lack of emphasis on intuitive, emotional, affective components in learning

 Lack of testing; Is transformative learning theory viable for adult education practice
Transformative Learning Process in Education
Teachers can only provide an opportunity to transformatively learn.

Educators must provide learners practice in recognizing frames of reference.

Educators need to provide learners with opportunities to effectively participate in discourse

The educator must encourage equal participation among students in discourse.

Educators is also to set objectives that include autonomous thinking.

Educator to promote discovery learning through the implementation of classroom methods such as
learning contracts, group projects, role play, case studies, and simulations.

The educator's role in establishing an environment that builds trust and care and facilitates the development of
sensitive relationships among learners is a fundamental principle of fostering transformative learning
 Social Learning Theory
 Social learning theory is the idea that humans learn from observing and imitating the behavior
modeled by others. Bandura labelled this phenomenon observational learning. In short, it is not
necessary to have a direct experience of something in order to learn.

 It can also take place by observing characters, real or fictional, in movies,

television programs, video games etc.

 It emphasizes the important of observing, modelling, imitating the behaviors, attitudes and
emotional reactions of others.
History of Social Learning Theory
 Albert Bandura is considered the father of social learning theory. In the 1960’s he conducted a
now-famous experiment called the Bobo doll experiment that led to his official writings on the
social learning theory in 1977.

****The Bobo doll experiment was a group of tests performed from 1961-1963. The experiments
involved studying children’s behavior after they watched an adult act aggressively toward a doll-like
toy with a low center of mass that rocked back after being knocked down.

 “Bobo doll experiment” helped him make the connection between social observation and new
behavior responses from individuals who had not learned the behavior before
 Bandura’s Social Learning Theory:
Main Idea
Described how people can learn something new by observing the behavior of other people and
applying rational mental behavior

***Observational learning
Is the first step in the social learning process
Can also occur through verbal instruction or listening to someone describe or explain how something is done.

*** Bobo doll experiment supported the social learning theory of observation learning
*** showed that kids mimicked the behavior of the adults they observed
*** the children preferred repeating actions of the models who gained approval by being rewarded.
*** they are also more likely to continue the behavior that results in positive than negative
consequences.
 When kids imitate a model
- it may be one type of behavior they reproduce
- kids may also identify with multiple models in their environment

 When kids imitate a model

- it may be one type of behavior they reproduce
- Kids may also identify with multiple models in their environment

Models could be
*parents *siblings *peers *celebrities
*teachers *friends *cartoon characters

- they identify with these people because they have talents, abilities, or qualities the child
wants to possess

 When they identified with a model

-They were more motivated to adopt various behaviors of that model than just mimicking one
behavior
 Bandura’s social learning theory:
3 main idea
 Bandura identified the three types of models in his experiment
1.) People learned through observing role models a live model physically demonstrating an action
a live model using language to display a behaviors in online
media, movies, television programs, and books

 This means intrinsic reinforcements satisfy the psychological

2.) Internal psychology influences the learning process
needs like a sense of accomplishment, satisfaction, a form of
success or pride.

3.) learning a behavior doesn’t automatically mean the  Changing or applying a new behavior must be of value to the
person will execute it person to want to apply what they’ve learned
What are the 4 Elements of Social Learning
Theory?
Attention a lesson must engage a student sufficiently to hold their attention

Students must be able to remember what they have seen or heard.

*** How much do we retain?

Retention maybe you can remember the more significant learning in a certain way through any
number of memory techniques
*mnemonic devices
*writing it down
*repetition

Reproduction Students should be given time to practice the observed behavior

a student must be able to see the benefit of a new behavior for long term assimilation.
Motivation - to have most success for any observational learning
- both reinforcement and punishment impact motivation
How can Teacher use social Learning Theory in the
classroom?
1. On managing the Classroom
2. Teacher can use positive and negative reinforcement to motivate students to perform certain behaviors
3. On making Transitions or Clarifications
4. Teachers can use physical and/or verbal cues to elicits student attention
5. On Planning for Instruction
6. Teacher may incorporate multimodal learning to help students retain new information
7. On supporting Intrinsic Motivation
8. Teacher can use rewards and reinforcement to help students develop confidence, self-efficacy, and a love for learning
9. On Incorporating Collaborative Learning
10.Teachers can create time in each lesson for students to practice and learn with diverse students (model) in low stakes activities
11.On Trying a Flipped Classroom Model
12.Students watch a video or lesson at home and observe others’ behaviors during the learning activities in the classroom
13.On Applying the Principles of Gamification to Lessons
14.Gamification naturally creates rewards and reinforcements for positive behaviors
15.As teacher make conscious efforts to amplify social learning in their classroom
Experiential Learning Theory

 Experiential learning focuses on the idea that the best ways to learn things is by actually having experiences.

 Is the process of creating knowledge

 Defined as 'learning by doing'. The learner is an active participant in the educational process, and learning
is achieved through a continuous cycle of inquiry, reflection, analysis and synthesis (Bartle, 2015 (PDF,
803.8 KB)).

 David Kolb developed Experiental Learning Theory in 1984

 Kolb’s Experiential Learning Theory

The first two stages involves grasping an The second two stages focus on transforming an
experience experience

 Concrete Learning  Abstract Conceptualization

 Reflective Observation  Active Experimentation
THE EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING STYLES
In the Experiencing style, one emphasizes feeling while balancing
Experiencing
acting and reflecting, spending the least amount of time thinking

In the Imagining style, one emphasizes feeling and reflecting, spending

Imagining the least amount of time deciding.

In the Reflecting style, one engages in sustained reflection informed by

Reflecting
both feelings and thoughts, spending the least amount of time acting.

In the Analyzing style, one learns primarily through thinking and

Analyzing reflecting, spending the least amount of time initiating.

In the Thinking style, one emphasizes thinking while balancing

Thinking
reflecting and acting, spending the least amount of time experiencing.
 In the Deciding style, one emphasizes thinking and acting in situations,
Deciding spending the least amount of time imagining.

In the Acting style, one uses feeling and thinking to initiate action,
Acting
spending the least amount of time reflecting.

In the Initiating style, one uses feeling and acting to initiate action,
Initiating
paying the least attention to analyzing.

In the Balancing style, one tends to shift between the opposites of

Balancing
experiencing-thinking and acting-reflecting.
 Steps to Integrating Experiential Learning in the
Classroom
1. Set up the experience by introducing learners to the topic and covering basic material that the learner must
know beforehand (the video scenario as well as discussion).

2. Engage the learner in a realistic experience that provides intrigue as well as depth of involvement (mock
trial).

3. Allow for discussion of the experience including the happenings that occurred and how the individuals
involved felt (discussion afterwards).

4. The learner will then begin to formulate concepts and hypotheses concerning the experience through
discussion as well as individual reflection (discussion afterwards, but also could be done with journaling).

5. Allow the learners to experiment with their newly formed concepts and experiences (interpreting current
conflict and conflict resolution scenario).

6. Further reflection on experimentation (discussion, but could also be done through journaling).
 Kolb’s Learning Style
1 Diverging – learners focus on concrete experience and reflective observation.

2 Assimilating – learners who favour abstract conceptualization and reflective observation.

3 Coverging – focus on abstract conceptualization and active experimentation.

4 Accommodating – learners who favour concrete experience and active active experimentation
What are the benefits of experiential
learning?
 There is more room for creativity

 It allows you to learn from mistakes

 It encourages reflection and introspection

 It’s easier to grasp difficult or abstract concepts

 It prepares you for future experiences and adult life

 Teachers observe improved attitudes toward learning

References:
● Mezirow
, J., & Associates. (2000). Learning as transformation: Critical perspectives on a theory in progres
s. San Francisco, CA:
Jossey-Bass, Inc.
● https://www.phoenix.edu/blog/educational-learning-theories.html
● https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transformative_learning
● https://www.wgu.edu/blog/guide-social-learning-theory-education2005.html
● https://www.educationcorner.com/social-learning-theory/
● https://www.wgu.edu/blog/experiential-learning-theory2006.html
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Thank You
Charieble F. Cardona
MTSci Guindance & Counciling

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