Theories and Principles for
Enabling learning
Andy Naylor
email: a.naylor@bradfordcollege.ac.uk
Tele: 01274 436337
3/17/2016
• How many theories of learning are there?
• What is your own theory of how people
learn most effectively?
• The theories we will consider in the
sessions include:
-Learning styles
-Humanism
-Behaviourism
-Communication
-Cognitivism
theory
-Constructivism
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Skills Pyramid- organise your cards like this
Top one here
You
will need to discard two from the list
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The teachers’ top ten- this is just one view NOT a
correct answer
Active learning
Enthusiasm
Up to date
Differentiation
Set outcomes
Know theories
Formative feedback
Humour
Praise and reward
High expectations
These were selected as important by learners. Come back to this at then end
of the module and review in light of what you have learnt
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Why do we need to know about
theories?
• In your group come up with a list of ideas and then
compare with the ideas highlighted on the handout – ‘In
defence of theories’
Peter Scales (2010) Teaching in the Lifelong Learning
Sector
• People learn in different ways and your responsibility to
be knowledgeable about these
• Taking a “common sense” approach has dangers e.g.
assumption people learn in the same way we do
• Teaching how we learn is the most effective approach to
learning it shouldn’t be about filling the “empty bucket”
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Outcomes
• Define learning
• Suggest reasons why knowledge of
theories can help your teaching
• Describe competing learning styles
theories and apply this knowledge to your
specialist area
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Outcomes for the assessment
Write a 2,000 word essay which
• Examines a range of theoretical approaches to
learning and the implications of these for your
teaching practice - so not just an essay about
theories, more about you recognising how you
apply them or could apply them
• Examine theories and principles of
communication and relate these to inclusive
teaching and learning – how you use
communication theories/understanding to ensure
your teaching is inclusive
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Part 2
Reflection on an observation
• Use a model of reflection (e.g. Brookfield
or Kolb) to write a reflective account of the
session which links to a range of theories
(learning and communication) – 500 words
• If you haven’t arranged an observation the
do it asap
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What is learning?
• Think about Kate’s lecture all those years ago…
• How did she (and then you) define learning?
• 1 definition per group
(it helps to have a definition of learning if you are
writing about the application of learning theories)
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What is learning?
• Change: developing a new skill, understanding
something new, change in attitude
• A permanent change done intentionally and
purposefully
• Other learning is by experience or accident
• All learning is understanding why something
happens and doing it better next time
(Reece and Walker 2006, p.53)
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Theories and Models
• Theories tend to look at how learning happens
• A belief or principle that guides action or assists
comprehension, this results in the development
of models
• Models tend to focus on applying theory to
learning situations or how the theory is applied
to practice i.e. practical approaches to putting
the theory into practice
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• There are many relevant theories to T & L
• You already apply some theories or use
models perhaps without knowing it e.g.
Bloom or learning styles
• Our focus will be on a few key theories
and models and how you might apply
them to your context
e.g. theory might say learners need to
develop their own learning (constructivism).
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Crystal or Mud?
• Theories are classified in different ways
depending on who you read
• Some theories have sub-classifications e.g.
Bloom
• A lot of the language is jargonistic and can seem
confusing or get in the way
E.g. Behaviourist, Humanist, Gestaltist,
Cognitivist, Constructivist
• How do you get your students to cope with key
terminology?
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What is a theory?
What is a theory?
• A theory provides a general explanation for observations
made over time
• A theory seeks to explain and predict behaviour
• A theory can never be established beyond all doubt
• A theory may be modified
• Sometimes a theory may be widely accepted for a long
time and later disproved
(Dorin, Demmin & Gabel, 1990)
http://www.usask.ca/education/coursework/802papers/mergel/brenda.htm#The%20Basic
s%20of%20Constructivism
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One theory:
Learning Styles
What does it all mean?
How much do you
know/apply/respect these
ideas?
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In theory…
A broad summary of learning styles theory that
applies to most of them is:
• By thinking about your preferred style, you can
try and apply this to learning new things. If
you're able to use your natural style, you're
likely to find learning much easier and quicker
• If you’re aware of how you learn best, you can
also adapt to methods of teaching and learning
that don’t reflect your preferred style
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Learning styles categorisation and sub theories are derived from
many existing theories…
Half the list of links to various
learning theories on
http://tip.psychology.org/theories.html
Frank Coffield & team (the Coffield
Report 2004) identified 70 models of
L.S’s
So you can see, there are quite a few!
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Various Theories
• You may have heard of all sorts of learning
styles theories. Three common ones are:
• Left Brain/ Right Brain model
• VAK (Visual, auditory, kinaesthetic- this is a
distillation of Gardner’s Multiple intelligence
model)
• Honey and Mumford’s model (reflector ,
theorist, activist, pragmatist- partially derived
from Kolb’s model)
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Left Brain/ Right Brain
Which side is
dominant in you?
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The Left Brained Student
• Left-brain students prefer to work alone.
• They like to read independently and
incorporate research into their essays.
• They favour a quiet classroom without a
lot of distraction.
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The Right Brained Student
• Right-brain students prefer to work in groups.
• They like to do things like art projects and
graphic design.
• They would prefer to design and make a kite
rather than write essay.
• So what does it mean if you see yourself in
both of these?
(Left/right brain activity)
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Activity
• Complete the handout IN SILENCE
• Please try not to talk
• 5 minutes
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What is VAK?
Visual
Auditory
Kinaesthetic
NB
Also Commonly VARK to include ‘Read/ write’
Dunn & Dunn have added (VAK)T = Tactile
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Visual Learners
Images
Problem
Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
Graphical Representations
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Auditory
•
•
•
•
Like listening- Lectures OK
Prefer to hear directions
Good on the phone!
Often use sound as study tool (pod
casts?)
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Kinaesthetic
• Kinaesthetic learners prefer things that
require movement.
• They prefer experiments over theory.
• They like concrete not abstract.
• Chinese Proverb says: “I hear and I
forget; I see and I remember; I do and I
understand.”
• Why is it often argued that Kinaesthetic
learners are the most neglected in
classrooms?
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Put it to the test
• You will now learn to count from 1 to 10 in
Japanese in taking part in an activity which
incorporates all 3 learning styles
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Honey and Mumford’s Model
Peter Honey and Alan Mumford, based upon
the work of Kolb, identified four distinct
learning styles or preferences:
Activist, Theorist,
Pragmatist and
Reflector.
These are the learning approaches that
individuals naturally prefer. (handout)
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So …
• Are you convinced or sceptical?
• “learning styles …are seen by govt. ministers as
a key component of personalised learning. [But]
personalised learning cannot be based on
learning style instruments which have been
proved to be unreliable, invalid and of negligible
impact on practice.” (Coffield, Research
Matters, 2005)
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and
• There is no scientific evidence to support
the theory
• If you are a “good” teacher who
differentiates do you need to worry about
them?
• “the more ways you teach, the more
people you reach” (Kate’s mum, 1945)
• Isn’t really just about differentiation?
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So…
• Do you use learning styles questionnaires/
activities in your teaching?
• Does your organisation recommend L.S. models
and their application?
• What impact has L.S. had on your experience as
a teacher so far?
• How have I applied LS theory in this session?
• How could Learning styles theories be applied?
• What changes would you need to make to your
teaching?
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For your assignment
• You could say how you use learning styles
in your teaching and learning
• How does it help you and your learners?
• What are the problems with the approach?
• What might you do differently as a result of
what you have learnt?
• Not one of the main theories
(NB reference your discussion)
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Next Week
Must do:
• Find a definition of learning you like and
bring it to class next week. Provide a
rationale as to why it is an appropriate
definition for you, your students and your
curriculum
• Reflect on the usefulness and issues with
learning styles
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Optional but interesting:
• Follow this link and read pages 5-14 or to
print it print pages 14-24.
http://www.itslifejimbutnotasweknowit.org.uk/
files/Coffield_IfOnly.pdf
• Find something out about behaviourism
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