Behavioral Learning Theories
Behaviorism has had more influence on education than any other single movement, as aspects of its principles continue to be applied appropriately and successfully today whereas others are roundly rejected. Among the first fathers of behaviorism are Pavlov, Thorndike and B. F. Skinner. Although there are many different behavioral theorists and sometimes their theories are conflicting, they share an elemental commonality. The fundamental premises of behaviorism are that all behavior is learned, and that learning is most influenced through manipulation of the environment in which it occurs and the rewards provided to encourage it. Many aspects of behaviorist theories are will known and continue to be used in clinical educational settings, especially in the acquisition of technical skills. In most cases, especially at the beginning of clinical nursing education, it is faculty who determine what is important to know, experience, and demonstrate. Although students’ involvement in their own learning has increased, faculty remains the primary control and authority, even today. Knowledge grows as a house is built, one aspect or brick upon another. So prior knowledge forms a references point for both the assimilation of new knowledge and the application transfer of knowledge from one learning experience to another. Knowing what prior knowledge is available can allow the teacher to intentionally assist the student in connecting new knowledge to old and thereby enhance overall understanding. The sequential, step-by-separate step format of the nursing process, and the resulting nursing care plans are a direct outgrowth of behaviorism. Any activity students are involved in that follows this procedural template, such as the development of teaching plans, reflects behavioral learning theories.
Cognitive Learning Theories
Learning is the process of change in thinking, feeling and acting that is generated by acquisition of knowledge and information. There are many learning theories which serve as foundations of learning today. Educators base their curriculum on learning theories. Theories are developed from the analysis of facts in relation to one another and then are used to explain phenomena. Knowledge obtained from such research has continued to the theoretical underpinnings for entire conceptual structures – frameworks – for education. This paper will discuss the different theories that are used in Nursing Education.
The emphasis of cognitive theorists is not external to the learner, as in behaviorism, but rather emphasizes what occurs within the learner. To the cognitive theorists, the mental steps involved in acquiring, processing, and structuring information are the key foci to learning. There is a profound shift from passive to active learning and from teacher to learner. It is a logical progression then that the concept of an externally delivered reward for learning attainment is not a feature of these theories. Indeed, internal motivation, the learners’ desire to learn is seen as the impetus to learning; their own goals are the origin of an inner uncertainty and strain that become the stimulus to learn. Just as behavioral learning theory has a common core, so too the mental aspects of learning are the center of cognitive learning theories. Although other philosophies have impacted nursing practice and education historically, current nursing education is primarily on two very different philosophical perspectives: realism and existentialism. Realism is the philosophic theory that reality exists in the physical world and that truth is an observable fact, is the foundation of behaviorism. The organization of the world, as it was known in his time, is credited to Aristotle. He divided knowledge into social, physical and life sciences. Behaviorism is seen both as an educational framework and as a learning theory. Directly or indirectly, changes in nursing education that began to appear in the 1960s reflected the philosophical position known as existentialism. From this perspective, the greatest value is placed on freedom of choice, and the individual is the basis of reality.
Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com
0 comments:
Post a Comment