Ted Power
English Language Learning and Teaching
Definitions of "learning"
TEACHING INDEX | NEXT
Indicate whether the following ideas about learning are True or False:
- Learning is the acquisition of knowledge by study. (19th century theory)
- Learning is a permanent change in behaviour brought about by experience. (Behaviourist theory)
- Learning is the sudden or slow acquisition of insight into the rules governing certain relationships in the environment. (Discovery learning)
- Learning is the discovery of new facts and relating them to those already known. (Fundamental/active learning; store/retrieval system)
- Behaviour involving purposeful use of motor muscular acrivity (a skill) cannot be learned without practice. The more practice the more successfully it is learned. (Pronunciation: motor muscular activity)
- Using a language is a skill which has to be learned by practising it.
- Successful practice is more effective than making mistakes. (Role of mistakes: risk-takers / mistake-makers make better language learners. Different kinds of mistakes e.g. failure of motor muscular system)
- The amount of practice needed depends upon the complexity of the skills involved.
- It is better to break down a complex skill into separate components and practise them separately. (atomistic)
- The more difficult what is to be learned appears to be, the more unlikely it is to be learned. (motivation of the learner)
- The more pointless what is to be learned appears to be, the more unlikely it is to be learned.
- The more mysterious what is learned appears to be, the more unlikely it is to be learned.
- In dealing with a situation which is new to them learners tend to equate it with what they are already familiar with.
- The smaller differences are, the less likely they are to be perceived.
- A skill has only been learned properly when it can be adapted successfully to unfamiliar situations.
TEACHING INDEX | NEXT