Essentials of Learning for Instruction Gagn and Driscoll

Essentials of Learning for Instruction Gagné and Driscoll Chapter 1 Introduction Barry Williams 1

The Role of the Instructor Provides instruction Set of events designed to initiate, activate, & support learning Planned Delivered Barry Williams 2

What is learning? A process Typically involves interaction with external environment Inferred by a change or modification in behavior Persistent over time Barry Williams 3

Knowledge about Learning Through research that must be both valid and reliable By observational studies that may lead to – Correlational studies show negative or positive effects – Experimental studies show variable effects Barry Williams 4

Knowledge about Learning (continued) Experimental data yields inferences about non-observable process of learning. These inferences give rise to generalized knowledge about learning (called learning principles). These inferences are verified by predicting additional learning outcomes in a new situation. Barry Williams 5

Example of the Study of Learning. . 6 Map! What map? ? Barry Williams 6

Research Terminology Reliability – addressed by repeated observations – leads to replicable data Validity – measures or evaluates what it says it does Controlling conditions Barry Williams 7

Research Terminology: Inferences about internal processes Use many studies to validate premise For example: Research Conclusion: Facts are learned more readily when they can be meaningfully related by the learner, i. e. Generalized Inference: A story has framework / schema to “hang facts on” Barry Williams 8

Learning Theory Basics Research on learning produces data The data accumulates and allows the formulation of learning principles As the knowledge grows, ways are suggested to organize disparate facts into a single conceptualization called a theory Barry Williams 9

Learning Theory (continued) A learning theory is designed to explain several specific facts that have been independently observed by relating these facts to a conceptual model Models are designed to generate predictions of behavior – when predictions are not verified theory is either modified or rejected Barry Williams 10

Behaviorist Learning Theory 1913 E. L. Thorndike – Law of Effect (stimulus, response, reinforcement) Restated by B. F. Skinner in the 50 s – Law of reinforcement – all conditions were “external” or observable Barry Williams 11

Modern Learning Theory & Its Model Analogous to the workings of a computer Information is transformed These transformation are called learning processes Model represents learning as we know it Barry Williams 12

Information Processing Model Lindsay & Norman, 1977 Effectors Environment Receptors Barry Williams Executive Control Expectancies Response Generator Sensory Register Short-Term Memory Long-Term Memory 13

Purpose of Learning Theories Planning lessons – Discloses the limits of what is possible Conducting lessons – Guides you in an appropriate course of action Assessing lessons – Makes it possible to compare what students know and what they can demonstrate Barry Williams 14