Overview of the learning process

1. The Learning Process
ISW
June, 2017

2. Learning Outcomes
Explain the learning process based on
the 3 stages of information processing.

3. Defining learning
Group Activity
What is learning?
Come up with own definition and present to
group.
5 minutes

4. Learning
Internal, staged, mental process
Unique to individual
Cannot be observed … but….
Is recognized externally
Change in behaviour
Adaptation to environment

5. Internal process
Cannot be seen
Design evaluation to get …..
Observable change in behaviour

6. Unique
We all prefer to learn in different ways
Learning preferences
Seeing / Hearing / Doing / Exploring
Different instructional strategies:
Lecture / Overheads / Q&A / Discussion /
Demonstration / Discovery, etc.

7. Staged
3 stages:
1. Motivation
2. Guidance
3. Practice

8. The process

9. Motivation
Receivers: Keep info 1 or 2
seconds
Responders: perform tasks
Info not needed OUT
Activate students’ motivation: make them want to learn! Keep them focused
on what you want them to learn.
Attention is believed to be
the process essential for
moving information from
sensory register to short-
term memory.

10. Guidance
Temporary storage
Use immediately
and forget it
(7 pieces of info at
a time for 20
seconds)
Move it to longer
term storage
Organization:
• Chunking
• Imposing a rhythm
• Attaching meaning

11. Practice
Connect it / categorise it (schema)
Keep information
Re-use it (recall / repeat)
Storage – information
must be:
• Understood, organized
and integrated with
other information

12. Adult Learners
Think about a time when you had a really good learning
experience as an adult (if not a good one—a bad one)
Pair up with someone and share that story
Now see if the two of you can extract ideas of what made it
such a good experience.
Based on these stories can you identify the characteristics of
adult learners? Write these on a flip chart to share with
others.
Share with the whole group ideas regarding adult learning.
Think, Pair Share Activity

13. Characteristics of Adult Learners
Adults have years
of experience and a
wealth of
knowledge
Adults have
established values,
beliefs, and
opinions
Adults expect to be
treated as adults
Adults need to feel
self-directed
Adults often have a
problem centred
approach to
learning
Adults accept
responsibility for
own learning if it is
perceived as timely
and appropriate
Adults are results
oriented

14. Gagne’s Events of Instruction
Events of Instruction
Sequence of events activates all processes needed
for effective learning.
Gain attention
Describe the goal or objective
Stimulate recall / prior learning
Present the material to be learned
Provide guidance for learning
Elicit performance “practice”
Provide informative feedback
Assess performance
Enhance retention and transferability
http://edutechwiki.unige.ch/en/Nine_events_of_instruction