Learning Theories and Adult Education/Training Programs

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Learning Theories and Adult Education/Training
Programs

• By Gloria Aguilar

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Learning theories involved

• Behaviorism
• Cognitivism

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Definition for behaviorism

• From a behaviorist prospective, the human mind
  is malleable, capable of being shaped and formed
  into producing desired responses and behavior if
  specific conditioning and circumstances are
  accounted for and controlled(Brown Green,
  2006, p. 36)

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Definition for cognitivism

• From a cognitivist perspective, learning is a
  change in mental representations and associations
  brought about by experiences Like a computer,
  the mind processes information through a series
  of procedures that work together as a complete
  system(Brown Green, 2006, pg. 36, 37, 50).

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Evaluating the applicability of each theory for
the selected adult education environment.

• Referring to the behaviorism theory, Green
  Brown (2006) stated learners learn by doing,
  experiencing and engaging in repeated trial and
  error (p. 49-50). Ex. Learning how to drive a
  vehicle engage participant into active roles
  which expand their previous knowledge.

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Evaluating cognitivism

• Stated in The Essentials of Instructional
  Design (2006), as individuals engage in the
  learning process, they actively choose, practice,
  pay attention, ignore, reflect, and make many
  other decisions as they pursue goals (p.50-51).
  Ex. Individuals taking an algebra test.

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Selected learning theories impact
teaching/training by conducting selected studies.

• The Effects of Listening While Reading and
  Repeated Reading on the Reading Fluency of Adult
  Learners is an example of a study where adult
  basic education instructors across the United
  States were conditioned using learning theories
  to enhance their deficit reading skills.

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Conclusion

• Behaviorism and cognitivism two remarkable
  learning theories that have been persistent in
  the world of education and instructional
  designers helping individuals understand how
  people think , and, in turn, how people learn
  (Green Brown, 2006, p.35).

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References

• Bjork, Daniel W.(1993). B.F. Skinner A Life.
  New York, NY Basic Books, A division of
  HarperCollins Publishers, Inc.
• Brown, Abbie, Green Timothy D. (2006). The
  Essential of Instructional Design Connecting
  Fundamental Principles with Process and
  Practice. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey
  Pearson Education Inc.
• Crumrine, B. M., Irwin, M. E., Honzaki, E.,
  Soifer, R., Simmons, B. K., Young, D. L.
  (1990). The Complete Theory-To-Practice
  Handbook of Adult Literacy Curriculum Design
  and Teaching Approaches. New York, NY
  Teachers College Press.

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Cont..

• Hale, Andrea D., Oliver, Renee, Skinner,
  Christopher H., Winn, Beth D, Ziegler, Mary.
  (2006). The effects of listening while reading
  and repeated reading on the reading fluency of
  adult learners. Journal of Adolescent Adult
  Literacy , 50 (3). Retrieved February 23, 2009
  from EBSCOhost database.