Course Name
Understanding the Learning Process
Contact Hours: 10
Course Description
Everyone is involved in the learning process for at least a quarter of his life; some of us much more than that. Understanding the learning theories and how the brain actually functions leads to better performance both as a teacher and as a student.
This course will help teachers to be more effective and reduce the frustration that most teachers feel. The lessons will cover the types of learning theories- Behavioral and Cognitive. There is a lesson on Brain-based learning and one on Multiple Intelligences. The more recent research in these two topics has had a major impact on teaching and learning.
Although the course is written with teachers in mind, it is beneficial to anyone who wants a better understanding of the learning process- parents, students, etc. Students of this course will develop their own teaching and learning methods from their understanding of these theories.
Outcome
The students will:
Gain a deeper understanding of how the human learns.
Invesigate the theories of learning.
Apply the information to improve conditions of learning for oneself or for another student.
Assessment
The students will complete a brief essay-type assignment at the end of each lesson.
These will be reviewed and graded.
An overall percentage of 70 or more will be considered a passing grade.
Outline
What is learning: This lesson contains the definition of learning and important points about learning- types of learning and the conditions for learning.
The Behaviorist and Social learning theories: This lesson contains the definition of learning and important points about learning- types of learning and the conditions for learning put forward by the social learning theorists and behaviorists.
Cognitive theories:A summary of the cognitive/constructivist theories of Jerome Brunner and Jean Piaget.
Brain-based learning theory:Brain-based learning has many applications in teaching and learning now. This is an introduction to the research and information on brain-based learning. This lesson will lead the student to want to explore this topic further as this is a very broad and complex topic.
Multiple Intelligences: An overview of Howard Gardner's theory of Multiple Intelligences and how it applies to the classroom.