Theories and principles for planning
and enabling learning
Unit 4 – Lecture 6
Behaviourist Theory
Intelligence is a single
entity that is inherited
and that human
beings are born with a
‘blank slate’ and can
be trained to learn
anything provided that
it is presented in a in
appropriate way
Howard Gardner (1993) –
Multiple Intelligences
• There exists a multitude of intelligences,
quite independent of each other.
• Gardner suggests most of us are strong in
3 types.
• Each intelligence has its own strengths
and constraints and it is very difficult to
teach things that go against our strong
intelligences
Multiple Intelligences Theory
Intelligence type
Capability and perception
Linguistic
Words and language
Logical-mathematical
Logic and numbers
Musical
Music, sound and rhythm
Bodily-kinaesthetic
Body movement and control
Spatial - visual
Images and space
Interpersonal
Other people’s feelings
Intrapersonal
Self-awareness
Multiple Intelligence Theory
• Provides a pivotal indication to:
– preferred learning styles
– behavioural and working styles
– natural strengths
Gardner’s theory
• Intelligence cannot be measured on a single
scale. E.g. IQ test
• Intelligence is a mixture of several abilities
• No one is good at all of them
• Yet schools, colleges, universities still
perpetuate the idea that intelligence is ‘good’
and being unintelligent is ‘bad’
Gardner’s theory
Each one of us has a unique and different
mix of intelligences and that our abilities
and potential extend far beyond traditional
methods of assessment
Gardner, H, (1983) ‘Frames of the mind:
Theory of multiple intelligences’
Carl Rogers (1969)
• According to Rogers we enter this world
with no self concept and no self
• All we have are:
– Sensory impressions
– Biological processes
– Motor activities
• As we grow, we differentiate ourselves
from other parts of the phenomenal world
to be come an ‘independent self’
Carl Rogers – ‘Freedom to
Learn’ (1969)
• Believed that humans have a fundamental need
to realise their full potential (self-actualisation)
• We use this need as a basis for evaluating our
experiences in life
• Those which enhance our development are
seen as positive experiences
• Because we all have different potentials, we
evaluate experiences differently and therefore
develop different sets of values
Rogers on Learning
• Distinguished two types of learning:
– Cognitive (academic knowledge)
– Experiential (applied knowledge)
Experiential learning addresses the needs of
the learner and is equivalent to personal
growth and change
Carl Rogers
Believed that all
human beings have a
natural propensity to
learn and the role of
the teacher is to
facilitate such
learning
Create the right conditions to
facilitate learning
• Positive climate
• Clarify objectives
• Organise and make
available resources
• Balance intellectual and
emotional components of
learning
• Share feelings and
thoughts with learners but
not dominating
Learning is facilitated when:
• The student participates completely in the
learning and has control over its nature
and direction
• It is primarily based on direct confrontation
with practical, social, personal and
research problems
• Self evaluation is a principal method of
assessing progress or success
Significant learning
• Takes place when the subject matter is relevant
to personal interests of the student
• Learning that is a threat to the ‘self’ (new
attitudes or perspectives) are more easily
assimilated when external threats are at a
minimum
• Learning proceeds faster when threats to the
‘self’ are low
• Self initiated learning is the most lasting and
pervasive
Sensory learning Laird (1985)
Traditional sensory stimulation theory has
as its basic premise that effective learning
occurs when the senses are stimulated
(Laird, 1985).
Sensory learning
Laird’s research found that 75% of
knowledge held by adults is learned
through seeing. 13% through hearing and
the other senses - touch, smell and taste
account for 12% of what we know.
Sensory learning
By stimulating the
senses, especially the
visual sense, learning
can be enhanced.
However, this theory
says that if multisenses are
stimulated, greater
learning takes place.
Sensory learning
Stimulation through
the senses is
achieved through a
greater variety of
colours, volume
levels, strong
statements, facts
presented visually,
use of a variety of
techniques and
media.