The document outlines several Gestalt principles of perception, including the laws of proximity, similarity, closure, good continuation, good pragnanz, and figure/ground. It highlights the relevance of Gestalt psychology in education, emphasizing the importance of experience in learning and the teacher's role in fostering autonomy and understanding of complex wholes. Overall, it suggests that Gestalt theory aids in organizing knowledge and enhancing cognitive processes through a holistic perspective.

1. GESTALT PRINCIPLES

2. Law of
Proximity
 Elements that are
closer together will be
perceived at coherent
objects.

3. Law of
Similarity
 Elements that look
similar will be
perceived as part of the
same form.

4. Law of Closure
 We tend to fill the gaps
of ”close” the figures
we perceive. We space
by completing &
contour and ignoring
gaps in the figure.

5. Law of Good
Continuation
 Individuals have the
tendency to continue
contours whenever the
elements of the pattern
establish an implied
direction. People tend to
draw a good continuous
line.

6. Law of Good
Pragnanz
 The stimulus will be organized
into as good as figure as possible.
In this example, good refers to
symmetry, simplicity, and
regularity: The figure is perceive
as a square overlapping a triangle
not a combination of several
complicated shapes. Based on our
experiences with perception, we
"expect" certain patterns and
perceive that expected pattern.

7. Law of Figure/Ground
• We tend to pay attention and
perceive things in the
foreground first. A stimulus will
be perceived as separate from
its ground.

8. Relevance of Gestalt Psychology to
Education according to Marion Polito
• Gestalt psychology is focused on the experience of contact that occurs in the
here and now. It talks interest in the complexity of experience, without
neglecting anything, but accepting and amplifying all that emerges. It stimulates
learning as experience and the experience as a source of learning Knowledge is
conceived as a continuous organization and rearrangement of information
according to needs, purposes and meanings. Autonomy and freedom of the
student is stimulated by the teacher.
• Gestalt is a theory of learning that focuses on the minds perspective. It is useful
as a behavioral tool as it enables the teacher to channel the pupil's energy into
thinking of an item or subject as parts of a whole, e.g., a car, being metal, paint,
wheels etc. By thinking of components and breaking down a situation it enables
for a more psychological process to take place and over time will broaden a
pupil's mind into thinking of the sum of the whole rather than just a complete
thing of situation.