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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
  1. What is learning: This lesson contains the definition of learning and important points about learning- types of learning and the conditions for learning.

  2. 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.

  3. Cognitive theories:A summary of the cognitive/constructivist theories of Jerome Brunner and Jean Piaget.

  4. 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.

  5. Multiple Intelligences: An overview of Howard Gardner's theory of Multiple Intelligences and how it applies to the classroom.