From childhood to adulthood, individuals learn many things from their teachers. Learning is not only about memorising facts. It is a complicated process influenced by different theories.
Understanding these theories can help teachers transform how education is delivered. This will further make it easier for students belonging to different age groups to retain and grasp knowledge.
This article will inform you about various details regarding teaching and learning theories.
Table of Contents
What Are Teaching and Learning Theories?
Teaching theories are proposed explanations of how we process, retain, and absorb knowledge. There exist several theories about the way we learn. Teachers can use them to help modify and plan their teaching approaches.
Some highly prominent approaches that are related to teaching theories include Bloom’s taxonomy, growth mindset, flipped learning, SOLO taxonomy and philosophy for children.Learning theories refer to the processes and conditions through which learning takes place. It provides teachers with models for creating instruction sessions that result in improved learning.
These theories let us know the processes that individuals engage in as they comprehend information. In addition, these theories examine the circumstances that hamper or enable learning and the factors that motivate individuals to learn.
Some of the most prominent learning theories include cognitivism, behaviourism, constructivism, humanism and connectivism.
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The Importance of Understanding Teaching Theories in Classroom Practice
Understanding teaching theories can prove to be important for classroom practice in many ways.
For instance, the principles and ideas related to Bloom’s taxonomy can be used in many ways in schools. It can provide a checklist to help ensure the content offers a full learning experience and that students develop a range of skills. The verbs in the revised taxonomy can be used to create questions that can help build in-depth and critical thinking.
In addition, several flipped-learning teachers use online resources and videos to develop tutorials outside the designated lesson time. This frees up their time, allowing them to interact with students on an individual basis. Further, it allows them to provide extension and support more effectively when they return to the classroom.
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The Role of Learning Theories in Understanding Student Behaviour
Learning theories can prove to be helpful in understanding student behaviour in several ways. Cognitivism learning theory focuses on how information is organised, stored, processed and received by the mind.
By implementing the cognitivism theory, we get to know that students have an improved understanding of all concepts by relating them to their prior knowledge. Also, the knowledge remains in their memory for an extended period. Connectivism is a learning theory where learning occurs through the implementation of technology.
By applying connectivism theory in the classroom, students explore new ideas and become more tech-inclined. There are also some negative impacts of this implementation. It has been found that students get distracted and start playing games or accessing irrelevant websites.
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How Teachers Can Apply These Theories Effectively in the Classroom?
There are several ways in which teachers can apply teaching and learning theorieseffectively in the classroom. If you are a graduate holding a degree like a Bachelor of Education in Senior Phase and Further Education and Training Teaching, it will be helpful to have an idea about these ways.
Have a look at them:
- To apply behaviourism: Offer positive reinforcement, like recognition and rewards, to students showing outstanding effort, performance or improvement.
- To apply cognitivism: Encourage the students to identify links between events or concepts.
- To apply humanism: Find out ways to offer the students more control over the pace and direction of their learning.
- To apply connectivism: Introduce more educational technology in the classroom.
- To apply the flipped learning approach: Provide tasks and materials to the students before a lesson and instruct them to work through those independently.
Benefits of Knowledge in Teaching and Learning Theories
Having knowledge of teaching and learning theories can be beneficial in many ways. Knowing about learning theories can be helpful for administrators, parents and teachers. These frameworks help shape curriculum development, guide teaching strategies, and enable teachers to develop an environment that supports a variety of learning styles.
There are advantages for the students as well. They get to understand how they learn best. This can help them change their approach to engage more effectively with the material and enhance retention.
Learning theories allow individuals to connect student outcomes and teaching methods. This ensures a better learning experience for all those who are involved. The growth mindset theory is highly popular among teachers. Those who have knowledge of this theory can help students improve their academic outcomes by developing their self-belief.
Common Challenges and Misconceptions
Besides the many benefits of teaching and learning theories we discussed, there are some challenges and misconceptions. To be well-informed, it is important to have an understanding of these as well.
Here are some of the misconceptions related to these theories:
- Flipped learning just involves watching videos
- Multiple choice questions (MCQs) prove to be useful only to test the memorisation of facts
- The availability of lecture capture reduces classroom attendance.
Looking at one of the challenges, we take into account the constructivism learning theory. According to this theory, a learner constructs their knowledge and understanding of the world through experiences, which they then relate to their prior experiences or knowledge. The theory assumes that the learner does have some prior knowledge.
In reality, it can be difficult for learners to relate to a new subject if they do not have any prior knowledge about it.
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Conclusion
Every individual learns differently. The teaching and learning theories allow teachers to meet these diverse academic needs in a better way. Teachers can better engage their students and help them succeed in the classroom by integrating these theories into their materials and teaching methods.
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FAQs
Learning theories are important for teachers because they help create an environment that supports a variety of learning styles.
It is important for teachers to use learning theories as they help shape curriculum development, guide teaching strategies, and help develop an environment that supports various learning styles.
Learning theories provide teachers with models to create instruction sessions that result in enhanced learning. They also help shape curriculum development.
The three most important theories of learning include cognitivism, behaviourism, and constructivism.
Understanding different learning theories is important for teachers to meet students’ diverse learning needs and improve the learning experience.
