Learning Theories and Teaching Methods

 

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It is important that students have a theoretic foundation when creating their own teaching methodology. In class were covered the major theoretic paradigms used in education now-a days. 

The 5 Educational Learning Theories

1. Behaviorism: Behaviorism is using reinforcement and punishment techniques to encourage or discourage certain behaviors. The environment around us shapes us because we are blank slates and so the behaviors of others can influence our behaviors as well. We can be conditioned to follow certain behavior patterns by the people around us. An example can be rats who push the lever everytime they get food and then keep continuing that behavior of pushing the lever to get more food. Their behavior of pushing the lever has been conditioned by behaviorism. 

2. Cognitivism: Cognitivism focuses more on the mind and the thinking process through reading texts and lecture instructions. People who learn this way are often thought as information processors. People are rational human beings whose actions are consequences of thinking. It focuses on the processes of mental activities like thinking, memory, knowing, and problem solving. Schema theory is using your own knowladge to further your learning, sort of like a Black Box on an airplane.

3. Constructivism:  Constructivism is a theory in education that recognizes the learners' understanding and knowledge based on their own experiences prior to entering school. It is associated with various philosophical positions, particularly in epistemology as well as ontology, politics, and ethics. It is based on the idea that people are responsible in creating their own understanding of the world by using what they know based on previous experiences in the process of linking new information to these experiences. People use these experiences and new information to construct their own meaning. 

4. Humanism:Humanism is when someone is trying to be a complete person. To do that, one must achieve the tiers of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs which is separated into three categories: basic needs, psychological needs, and self-fulfillment. The goal is to cultivate a person as a whole and create the most optimal self. A person must gradually ascend the humanistic needs based on a hierarchy to reach their peek potential. Humanism emphasizes the individual’s values, motivations, and goals. Humanistic theory has the basic assumption that people exist with free will and the ability to influence their lives through acts of intentionality. 

5. Connectivism: Connectivism is a theoretical framework for understanding learning in a digital age. It emphasizes how internet technologies such as web browsers, search engines, wikis, online discussion forums, and social networks contributed to new avenues of learning.  Today we live in the social media world with a lot of technology at our disposal. It is very easy to connect all around the world and find new resources and information about any subject. Everyone of all ages can easily connect with the technology at our hands. 

 

 

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Developmental Theories

• Hierarchy of Needs - Maslow
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• Multiple Intelligences - Gardner
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• Theory of Cognitive Development - Piaget
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• Zone of Proximal Development _ Vygotsky
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• Progressive Education (Learning By Doing) - Dewey
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• Montessori Theory of Teaching (Child chooses what to learn) - Montessori
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• Theory of Psychological Development - Erickson
  

  Erik Erikson was an ego psychologist who developed one of the most popular and influential theories of development. While his theory was impacted by psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud's work, Erikson's theory centered on psychosocial development rather than psychosexual development.

  The stages that make up his theory are as follows:
• Stage 1: Trust vs. Mistrust (Infancy from birth to 18 months)
• Stage 2: Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt (Toddler years from 18 months to three years)
• Stage 3: Initiative vs. Guilt (Preschool years from three to five)
• Stage 4: Industry vs. Inferiority (Middle school years from six to 11)
• Stage 5: Identity vs. Confusion (Teen years from 12 to 18)
• Stage 6: Intimacy vs. Isolation (Young adult years from 18 to 40)
• Stage 7: Generativity vs. Stagnation (Middle age from 40 to 65)
• Stage 8: Integrity vs. Despair (Older adulthood from 65 to death)
• LINK: https://www.verywellmind.com/erik-eriksons-stages-of-psychosocial-development-2795740
  

" I think it is important to understand that there is not one correct, or "right" theory of learning. All of them are good." Patricia Victor

Question 1

Given the nature of the theories listed above; how would you make them work in a dance/movement learning environment?

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Video

Our Philosophy And Methods Of Teaching Kids How To Dance

Question 2

What aspects of dance instruction is this video advertising?

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Teaching Methods

The term teaching method refers to the general principles, pedagogy and management strategies used for classroom instruction. Your choice of teaching method depends on what fits you; for instance, your educational philosophy, classroom demographic, subject area(s) and school mission statement. 

 

Methods of Instruction

Teacher-Centered

Taken to its most extreme interpretation, teachers are the main authority figure in a teacher-centered instruction model. Students are viewed as “empty vessels” External link  who passively receive knowledge from their teachers through lectures and direct instruction, with an end goal of positive results from testing and assessment. In this style, teaching and assessment are viewed as two separate entities; student learning is measured through objectively scored tests and assessments.

Lerner-Centered

While teachers are still an authority figure in a learner-centered teaching model, teachers and students play an equally active role in the learning process. The teacher’s primary role is to coach and facilitate student learning and overall comprehension of material, and to measure student learning through both formal and informal forms of assessment, like group projects, student portfolios, and class participation. In the learner-centered classroom, teaching and assessment are connected because student learning is continuously measured during teacher instruction.

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 Teaching Methods

 
Teaching theories can be organized into four categories based on two major paradigms: teacher-centered versus a learner-centered, and high-tech material use versus low-tech material use.

Learner-Centered Methods of Instruction

 Kinesthetic Learning (Low Tech)

Sometimes known as tactile learning"or "hands-on learning", kinesthetic learning is based on the idea of multiple intelligences, requiring students to do, make, or create.

In a kinesthetic learning environment, students perform physical activities rather than listen to lectures or watch demonstrations.

Hands-on experiences, drawing, role-play, building, and the use of drama and sports are all examples of kinesthetic classroom activities.

Though a great way to keep students engaged and, at times, simply awake, very few classrooms employ kinesthetic learning activities exclusively.

One reason is that, despite the popularity of learning style theories, there is a lack of researched-based evidence that shows that teaching to certain learning styles produces better academic results.

One upside is that kinesthetic learning is rarely based on technology, as the method values movement and creativity over technological skills.

Kinesthetic learning can be more student-centered than teacher-centered when students are given the choice of how to use movement to learn new information or experience new skills, so it’s also adaptable to a teacher’s particular classroom preferences.

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Differentiated Instruction (Low Tech)

 

Differentiated instruction is the teaching practice of tailoring instruction to meet individual student needs. 

It initially grew popular with the 1975 Individuals with Disabilities Education Act External link  (IDEA), which ensured all children had equal access to public education. 

The Individualized Education Programs External link  (IEPs) that started under IDEA helped classroom teachers differentiate for students with special needs. 

Today, differentiated instruction is used to meet the needs of all types of learners.

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Teachers can differentiate in a number of ways:

     > how students access content, the types of activities students do to master a concept,

      > what the end product of learning looks like

     >  how the classroom is set up.

Example

Some examples of differentiation include: having students read books at their own reading levels, offering different spelling lists to students, or meeting in small groups to reteach topics.

Though differentiation is focused on individual student needs, it is mostly planned and implemented by the teacher.

And technology, though a potential aid, is not a hallmark of the differentiated teaching style, making it a fairly traditional, low-barrier method to adopt.

 

 

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 Activity 1

 Based on the discussion, students write a statement in which they summarize and justify their preferred learning theory, developmental theory, learning paradigm and methodology of teaching.