Yr 12 - LEARNING AND MEMORY

classical conditioning

A model of learning through the involuntary association between a neutral stimulus and an unconditioned stimulus that results in a conditioned response

• learner plays passive involuntary response

• 3 stages - before, during and after conditioning

• eg. popping a balloon associated with a word said.

Stages of conditioning

before:

• neutral stimulus - initially no response

• unconditioned stimulus elicits an unconditioned response

during:

• repeatedly pairing the ns with the ucs still elicits the ucr

after:

• conditioned stimulus alone elicits conditioned response

operant conditioning

a three phase process involving reinforcement and punishment.

Antecedent - A stimulus that causes a voluntary behaviour to occur

Behaviour - A voluntary action in response to an antecedent

Consequence - An event following an action that makes it either more or less likely to occur again

involves an antecedent, behaviour and consequence, whereby the consequence of a behaviour determines the likelihood that it will reoccur.

types of reinforcement

positive reinforcement:

• add pleasant stimulus

positive punishment:

• add aversive stimulus

negative reinforcement:

• remove aversive stimulus

negative punishment:

• remove pleasant stimulus

Observational learning

Process of learning that involves watching the behaviour of a model and the associated consequence of the behaviour.

• The model is the person demonstrating behaviour. 

social-cognitive approaches to learning

Propose that learning takes place in a social setting and involves various cognitive processes.

stages of observational learning

Attention – learners must actively focus on the model’s behaviour and consequences of behaviour in order to learn. ​

Retention –  learner must create a mental representation stored in memory of the behaviour the model has demonstrated, that can be used at a later time.

Reproduction – learner must have the physical and mental capabilities to reproduce the observed behaviour. ​

Motivation – learner must want to reproduce the behaviour in order for learning to occur. ​

Reinforcement – learner receives a desirable consequence for their behaviour, they are more likely to reproduce the behaviour again in the future

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ way of knowing

They are unique, complex and sophisticated systems that are different to Western concepts of learning.

• Their learning is:

• holistic, involves understanding the relationships between the physical world, living beings, spirituality, and how they all interconnect with each other.

• occurs within/between families, communities and is intergenerational. 

• embedded in relationships between concepts, learner/teacher, individuals/families, country

Kinship

refers to relationships people have with each other, the knowledges they are responsible for, and the Country they have a responsibility to care for.

Country

Refers to the living system of all entities that exist within the universe.

• very different from English/western meaning

• a multimodal system

multimodal system

Way of learning that involves a variety different ways to learn.

• communication with different senses and elements of country

• multiple modalities means to listen, observe and sense the different languages of entities and their relationships to each other on Country.

multimodal 8 ways of learning

story sharing - learning through narrative, we connect through the stories we share

learning maps - mapping/visualizing the processes of our learning

non-verbal - see, think, act, move without words (kinesthetic)

symbols and images - using metaphors, images, art and objects to understand concepts.

community links - bringing new knowledge home, applying learning for community benefit

deconstruction/reconstruction - work from wholes to parts (watching then doing)

non-linear - combining systems and putting ideas together

land links - links content and learning to places, land and nature

song lines

A sequence of short sung narratives associated with specific locations that are linked by a physically walked, or imagined, path through Country.

• Tell stories of the journeys and experiences of the ancestral beings who created country.

• Encode knowledge of the places that are significant to finding water, food and medicines, things that are dangerous, laws and spiritual knowledge.

• Can be expressed in paintings, dance and carved objects.

yarning

A way of sharing knowledge between people.

• free flowing conversation that involves listening deeply and respectfully

• ethically and not aiming to dominate or cause a debate within the conversation

• can be accompanied with carving weaving and painting as a way of encoding the information and deepening knowledge

Dadirri (deep listening)

The process of attending to country by practicing silent, still awareness

• learning how to attend to and sense different languages of country

• interrelationships that exist between entities and people, giving them a profound knowledge of the living system they are a part of.

behaviorist approach

classical and operant conditioning

socio cognitive approach

observational learning

Memory definition

the process of encoding, storing and retrieving information that has been previously encountered

Processes

encoding - converting raw information from external stimuli into a useable form which is stored in the brain for later use

storage - converted information is then retained in the brain and accessed and used in the future

retrieval - accessing information which has been stored in long term memory and bringing it to conscious awareness in short term memory.

sensory memory definition

A store of memory which very briefly stores raw information detected by the senses.

Can be described as the entry point for memory

processes of sensory memory

function - retain information that has been detected by the senses, entry point for memory

capacity - unlimited

duration - iconic memory: 0.2 - 4 seconds

possible imagined futures

involves semantic and episodic autobiographical knowledge

semantic memory - in possible imagined futures as individuals must be able to envision possible scenarios that are consistent and fit in with what they already know about the world

episodic memory - individuals construct a possible imagined future that is subjective and involves detailed events with emotional aspects.

Alzheimer’s disease causes

lesions: an area of tissue which has been damaged, can be seen through neuroimaging

amyloid plaques - The protein beta amyloid that accumulates around the neurons, inhibits communication between neurons.

neurofibrillary tangles - accumulation of the protein tau that forms insoluble tangles within neurons.

Alzheimer’s disease on memory

memory loss:

• events

• words/names

• written and verbal directions

• stored knowledge

• severe personality changes

• difficulty imagining new experiences

Alzheimer’s disease on brain structures

Aphantasia

Lack of capacity to produce mental imagery reduces the detail of autobiographical events and possible imagined futures. People struggle to retrieve autobiographical memory and construct possible imagined futures.