Conditioning & Learning:

Learning

Learning is a relatively permanent change in knowledge, or behaviour that results from experience.

2 Types: Cognitive and Associative learning

Cognitive Learning

Style of learning that focuses on understanding and engaging with information actively, rather than passively memorizing it.

Cognitive Learning: Ability to acquire behaviours, skills & information in ways that are heavily dependent on memory, thinking & problem solving.

Learning can be explained by classical conditioning and operant conditioning.

Characteristics: Growth vs fixed mindset, auditory, visual or kinetic.

Growth vs Fixed Mindsets (Cognitive Learning)

A growth mindset believes that abilities can be developed through dedication and effort.

A fixed mindset believes that abilities are innate and unchangeable.

Auditory, fixed, kinetic (Cognitive Learning)

Visual learners learn best through seeing.

Auditory learners through listening.

Kinesthetic learners through doing.

Types of Instructions (Cognitive Learning)

Direct Instruction: Presented by lecture, or demonstration and students often learn through role practice.

Discovery Learning: Teachers create conditions which encourage students to discover or construct knowledge for themselves.

Latent learning: Occurs without obvious reinforcement and isn’t shown until reinforcement is provided.

Associative Learning

Style of learning to associate two stimuli or a stimulus and a response, resulting in a change in behavior.

Antecedents: Events that precede a response; important in classical conditioning.

Consequences: Effects that follow a response; more important in operant conditioning.

Reinforcements: Any event that increases the probability of a response occurring.

Classical Conditioning

Linking an anecdote stimulus that doesn’t produce a response with one that does.

Terms: NS, UCS, UCR, CS, CR, Extinction etc.

Operant Conditioning

Learning is based on the consequences of responding.

Law of effect by Thorndike.

Terms: Positive/Negative reinforcement, Positive/Negative punishment, shaping, chaining.

Factors influencing: Intensity, timing, consistency, reinforcement schedules.

Observational Learning

Learning is achieved by watching and imitating the actions of another or noting the consequences of those actions.

Model: Someone who serves as an example in observational learning.

Conditions:

Learner must pay attention to model and remember what was done.

Learner must be able to produce observed behaviour.

Learner is more likely to imitate behaviour if model is successful or has been rewarded for response.

Learner is more likely to repeat learned behaviour also when it is reinforced.