Developmental Theories Behaviorist Theory Information Processing Theories Learning Styles and Teaching Methods

iii Contents Preface Acknowledgments Introduction: An Overview of Learning Theories Some definitions Important learning theories of the twentieth century Disclaimers Value of this study

Chapter 1 Developmental Theories

Introduction Genetic programming Piagetian theory Piaget’s stages of human development The concrete operational stage The formal operations stage Applications in Western society Applications in ethnolinguistic minority groups Successive equilibration Educational implications Application

Chapter 2 Behaviorist Theory

Important themes Educational usefulness Reaction Application

Chapter 3 Information Processing Theories

Introduction Fundamental ideas Reception Learning – David P. Ausubel The importance of meaningful learning Advance organizers The lesson: information storage and retrieval Help for educators Application Schema Theory – Richard C. Anderson The concept of schema Important implications Application Information Processing – Robert Gagné Gagné’s series of internal processes The knowledge hierarchy Importance of the hierarchical concept Learning categories Designing instruction to enhance learning Application Social Learning Theory – Albert Bandura The theory in a nutshell The pervasive influence of modeling Types of models Effective modeling Reinforcement Self-evaluation and choice of friends Disengagement from blame Mechanisms involving cognitive restructuring Mechanisms which obscure or distort the relationship between actions and their effects Mechanisms which dehumanize the victim Mechanisms which displace responsibility Tips for teachers Application

Chapter 4 Learning Styles and Teaching Methods

Introduction A word about terms Development of the field Reliable testing Witkin’s definition of cognitive styles Salient characteristics Psychological differentiation Societal variance Group characteristics Molding influences Capacity for development Learning styles and educability I.Q. Tests Scholastic discrimination Domains of learning affected Social material Reinforcement Organization Concept attainment Cue salience Adultchild role expectations Additional learning styles Hemispheric dominance In the Classroom Student characteristics An example from a holistic classroom Holistic instructional techniques F ield IndependentField Sensitive teaching and learning strategies Holistic lesson plans Teacher training Curriculum organization and evaluation Bicognitive development Further developments Cautions Application

Chapter 5 Social Constructivist Theory