Learning Theories: An Educational Perspective

Written to inform students of the main principles, concepts, and research findings of key theories of learning–especially as they relate to education–and to provide applications of principles and concepts in settings where teaching and learning occur, this revised text blends theory, research, and applications throughout, providing its readers with a coherent and unified perspective on learning in educational settings. The primary emphasis is placed on cognitive theories that stress learners’ constructions of beliefs, skills, strategies, and knowledge, but behavioral theories are also discussed in detail. Chapters have numerous applications of learning principles to applied settings including vignettes at the start of each chapter illustrating some of the principles discussed in the chapter, examples and applications throughout the chapters, and separate sections on instructional applications at the end of each chapter.Key features of this revised text include: a new chapter on Self-Regulation (Chapter 9); core chapters on the neuroscience of learning (Chapter 2), constructivism (Chapter 6), cognitive learning processes (Chapter 7), motivation (Chapter 8), and development (Chapter 10) all related to teaching and learning; updated sections on learning from technology and electronic media and how these advancements effectively promote learning in students (Chapters 7 & 10); detailed information on content-area learning and models of instruction to form coherence and connection between teaching and learning in different content areas, learning principles, and processes (Chapters 2-10); and over 140 new references on the latest theoretical ideas, research findings, and applications in the field. An essential resource for understanding key learning theoretical principles, concepts, and research findings–especially as they relate to education–this proven text blends theory, research, and applications throughout, providing its readers with a coherent and unified perspective on learning in educational settings.

Dale H. Schunk is Dean of the School of Education and Professor of Curriculum and Instruction at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. He holds a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from Stanford University, a M.Ed. from Boston University, and a B.S. from the University of Illinois at Urbana. He has held faculty positions at Purdue University (where he served as Head of the Department of Educational Studies), the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (where he also was Chair of the Academic Affairs Institutional Review Board), and the University of Houston.Dale has edited six books, is co-author of Motivation in Education: Theory, Research, and Applications (Prentice Hall, 2008) and has authored over 80 articles and book chapters. He has served as President of Division 15-Educational Psychology for the American Psychological Association and as Secretary of Division C-Learning and Instruction for the American Educational Research Association. He is presently a member of the editorial boards of three professional journals.Dale's teaching and research interests include learning, motivation, and self-regulation. He has received the Early Career Contributions Award in Educational Psychology from the American Psychological Association, the Albert J. Harris Research Award from the International Reading Association, and the Outstanding Service Award from the Purdue University School of Education

Table of Contents Chapter 1 — Introduction to the Study of Learning Learning Defined Precursors of Modern Learning Theories Learning theory and philosophy Beginnings of the psychological study of learning Structuralism and functionalism Learning Theory and Research Functions of theory Conducting research Assessment of Learning Direct observations Written responses Oral responses Ratings by others Self-reports Relation of Learning and Instruction Historical perspective Instructional commonalities Integration of theory and practice Critical Issues for Learning Theories How does learning occur? What is the role of memory? What is the role of motivation? How does transfer occur? Which processes are involved in self-regulation? What are the implications for instruction? Three Learning Scenarios Kathy Stone’s third-grade class Jim Marshall’s U. S. History class Gina Brown’s educational psychology class Summary Further Reading Chapter 2 — Behaviorism Connectionism Trial-and-error learning Laws of exercise and effect Other principles Revisions to Thorndike’s theory Instructional applications Classical Conditioning Basic processes Informational variables Biological influences Conditioned emotional reactions Contiguous Conditioning Acts and movements Associative strength Rewards and punishments Habit formation and change Operant Conditioning Conceptual framework Basic processes Behavioral change Behavior modification Self-regulation Instructional Applications Behavioral objectives Learning time Mastery learning Programmed instruction Contingency contracts Summary Further Reading Chapter 3 — Neuroscience of Learning Organization and Structures Neural organization Brain structures Localization and interconnections Brain research methods Neurophysiology of Learning Information processing system Memory networks Language learning Brain Development Influential factors Phases of development Critical periods Language development Motivation and Emotions Motivation Emotions Instructional Applications Relevance of brain research Educational issues Brain-based educational practices Summary Further Reading Chapter 4 — Information Processing Theory Information Processing System Assumptions Two-store (dual-memory) model Alternatives to the two-store model Attention Theories of attention Attention and learning Attention and reading Perception Gestalt theory Sensory registers LTM compar