Pedagogical perspective

Question 1

what is learning

Answer 1

• a process that results in a change in knowledge or behaviour as a result of experience
• there are three main theories
  
  • behaviourism
  • cognitivism
  • constructivism

Question 2

what is behaviourism

Answer 2

• based around skinners work on strengthening bonds between a stimulus and a response (operant conditioning)
• it is like a simple feedback system, if a reward follows an action , it is more likely to be repeated
• the teacher/coach controls the environment to achieve desired outcomes
• … whilst the participant remains a passive receiver of that knowledge
• ‘by being sensitive to the way learners learn in different ways and at different rates, behaviourist approaches are not rejected, but sometimes employed ‘as part of developing a richer and more extensive repertoire of pedagogical strategies’’

Question 3

what is cognitivism

Answer 3

• whereas behaviorists focused mainly on the products of learning (the behaviour or outcome), cognitivists considered the processes by which people learn
• metacognition: the mind is like a computer or information processor. Learners receive, store and act on information
• transmission model: teachers/coaches are seen as expert and pupil/athlete are viewed as novice
• context of learning: is largely irrelevant to the learning process as learning happens within the individual
• thinking and learning are viewed as skills, the effectiveness of which is determined by individuals innate cognitive structures
• learning is seen as social
• learning is viewed as involving the development of links between short term and long term memory

Question 4

what is constructivism

Answer 4

• learners are active in the learning process
• they believe that learning is most effective when it is active, interactive and authentic
• cognitive constructivism: idea suggested by Piaget (1970) that childrens minds are more than ‘empty vessels’ to be filled with information
• instead he argued that they actively process information through accommodation and assimilation and that knowledge is experienced
• social constructivism: founded by vygotsky (1978)
• he suggested that learning occurs through engaging in shared problem solving experiences with an adult educator or peers, and responsibility for learning gradually shifts to the learner
• educators must be aware of individuals prior learning so that they can ‘construct’ additional learning
• the pedagogical focus is task-oriented, hands on, self directed activities oriented towards design and discovery
• ‘… and the learning environment is likely to be active, energetic and noisy’
• compared to other learning approaches, the learner is much more active than passive