People learn in different ways depending on internal and external factors as well as how they are taught. Learning is influenced by the learner's development and skills, the environment including cultural influences and social interaction, and the teaching/learning exchange such as how the teacher helps students think and apply skills. Effective learning occurs through synergy between the learner, environment, and teaching approach. Teaching theories can be informed by recognizing how people learn, such as through multiple intelligences, students building on prior knowledge within their zone of proximal development, and using developmentally appropriate approaches.

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How Do People Learn?How Do People Learn?
People learn in manyPeople learn in many
different waysdifferent ways
depending upondepending upon
both external andboth external and
internal stimuli , asinternal stimuli , as
well as whosewell as whose
doing the teaching.doing the teaching.
by: A. K. Newsome

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Learning InfluencesLearning Influences
Those Internal and External factors that mitigate
learning are…
 The Learner
 The Environment
 The Teaching/Learning Exchange
 Synergy Between #’s 1, 2, and 3.

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The LearnerThe Learner
 The Students Development - What type of
learner is the student?
 Ability to Process Information - What is
her/his level of skill?
 Application of Skills – What is their Ability
to Apply Skills Learned.

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The EnvironmentThe Environment
 Esteem - How the the Student feels affects
his/her growth?
 Cultural/External Influences – Living
Environment, Heritage, Race, Language.
 Social Interaction – Students flourish when
peers learn with and from one another.

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The Teaching/learningThe Teaching/learning
ExchangeExchange
 Cognitive Apprenticeship - How will the teacher
help the students learn to think.
 Metacognition - The process when students perform
self reflection and determine their own path for
learning.
 Understanding of Discipline – Use of common
practices with respect to thinking and problem
solving.
 Application – Ability to utilize classroom skills to
solve real world problems.

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SynergySynergy
 Learner is self driven.
 Learner is stimulated by Learning Setting
 Environment that has the appropriate
learning apparatus and supports successful
learning.

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How Can Learning InformHow Can Learning Inform
Teaching Theory?Teaching Theory?
Learning informs Teaching Theory when
educators recognize and develop strategies
to support how people learn.
 Theory of Multiple Intelligences
 Zone of Proximal Development
 Developmentally Appropriate Approach

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Theory Multiple IntelligencesTheory Multiple Intelligences
Different types of learners:
 Musical-rhythmic
 Visual – spatial
 Verbal – linguistic
 Logical – mathematical
 Bodily - kinesthetic
 Interpersonal
 Intrapersonal
 Naturalistic

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Zone of Proximal DevelopmentZone of Proximal Development
 Students help and learn from one another.
 What is the students prior Knowledge
 The point at which the student begins to
need help.

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Developmentally AppropriateDevelopmentally Appropriate
ApproachApproach
 Draws on students prior knowledge
 Uses concrete examples to reinforce theory
 Experimentation

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ReferencesReferences
1. Annenburg Learner :
http://learner.org/courses/learningclassroom/session_overviews/
2. Gardner, Howard Frames of Mind: The Theory of
Multiple Intelligences (1983)