Its a reflective presentation on Insightful Learning Theory. The basic principles/features of gestalt school of psychology is highlighted through the explanation of the theory of insightful learning. It reveals the implication for classrooms. Perception of the whole situation, perceptual reorganization and aahaa experience are clearly mentioned by explaining the experiments with Sultan

1. INSIGHTFUL LEARNING
Gestalt Theory

2. Basics
 Max Wertheimer, Kurt Koffka, Wolfgang Kohler
 Learning as a result of organization of perception by
the learner (insight)
 Advocated that the organism perceives the whole
and not the parts
 Dissatisfied with the approach of behaviourists
 Gestalt is German word means- Pattern, form, or
configuration
 We react to our own pattern when we face problems

3. ...
 A thing cannot be understood by the study of its
parts but only by the study of it as a whole
 According to gestalt psychology the primary factors
that determine group are (Law of organization)
 Proximity: Nearness, if elements are near to each other then
chance of to be grouped
 Similarity: If elements are similar in specialities they become a
group
 Simplicity: items tend to be organized into simple figures
according to symmetry, regularity, and smoothness

4. ...
 Learning is purposive, exploratory, and
novel/creative,
 Neither trail and error, nor SR bond.
 Learner-
 Seeing the whole situation/perception
 Evaluating the relationship
 Intelligent Decision

5. Learning through
 Perception of the whole situation
 Perceptual reorganization
 Aaahaa experience-intelligent decision
 They use insight for the same

6. Stages of learning
 Survey of the problem
 Hesitation or pause to see the problem
 Repeated trails without insight
 Transition to sharpen the attempt
 Rethinking about the goal
 Appearance of critical point after insight
 Repetition and adaption as a response

7. Experiments
 Chimpanzees
 Sultan in a cage- banana hung on the roof part- a
box- Jumped- failed- Sudden idea- use of box to
jump from
 Second experiment- many boxes were required to
reach banana- Learned arrangement
 Third- Banana Outside- two sticks- one was hollow
so that the other can be put onside to make it
lengthy-Tried one and another- failed- finally joined

8. ---
 Confirmed the role of intelligence and cognitive
abilities in higher order learning like problem
solving and making patterns or association
 Problem identification-organization of
perceptual field- Insight
 Insight is a good observation, perception of
situations as a whole or perception of those parts of
the situation that provide the goal- Woodworth

9. Learning is based on
 Experience- past experience is helpful
 Intelligence- capacity is a matter
 Learning situation- situation and the availability of
the options are relevant
 Initial efforts of the organism in form of trial and
error is relevant
 Repetition and generalization- finally