Reflection on Learning Theories Matrix

Now that I have a deeper understanding of the different learning theories and learning styles, my view on how you learn changed in a variety of ways reflecting from my childhood through my adult learning. As a child, I did not always understanding the behavior I was to model; however, I hated having different levels of reading and always being in the intermediate level. According to Pavloff’s learning theory of conditional learning and B.F. Skinner’s operant conditioning, I did not understand the rewards and consequences for maximizing your learning potential. In elementary school, I always remember the teacher giving away candy as a reward for learning to spell words correctly. That was not a good incentive for me because I grow up in a neighborhood where learning was frowned upon by the locals. This tends to align with C. Hull’s version of behaviorism known a Drive Reduction Theory. Hull was interested in studying intervening variables that affected behavior such as initial drive, incentives, inhibitors, and prior training (habit strength). Like other forms of behavior theory, reinforcement is the primary factor that determines learning.

 As an adult and after taking my “Learning Theories” class, I better understand how I lose information as a result of not constantly using it in some type of way to reinforce learning. Malcolm Knowles is the theorist who developed the theory of “Andragogy” or adult learning theory. This theory makes the following assumptions about the design of learning: (1) Adults need to know why they need to learn something (2) Adults need to learn experientially, (3) Adults approach learning as problem-solving, and (4) Adults learn best when the topic is of immediate value. The process of learning is more of the focal point rather than content. Strategies such as case studies, role playing, simulations, and self-evaluation are most useful. Instructors adopt a role of facilitator or resource rather than lecturer or grader. Andragogy applies to any form of adult learning and has been used extensively in the design of organizational training programs (especially for "soft skill" domains such as management development. Another more recent theorist to support Knowles’ view is K.P. Cross (1981) with “The Characteristics with Adult Learning” (CAL) in the context of lifelong learning. Organization plays a vital role in my ability to learn. I cannot concentrate if my environment is not structured to my liking.

Further, I have learned about the various learning theories and learning styles more in depth over the past weeks that can further help explain my own personal learning preferences. I understand that I can possess all three learning styles – visual, auditory, and tactile- based upon what I am learning and the context in which I am learning. The one that intrigued me the most was the social learning theory developed by Banduara. Nevertheless, I believe that social development plays a major role in learning and their environment contributes to their negative or positive experiences. This in turn impacts learning by one’s desire to improve their situation or learn social patterns that can be detrimental to their very existence.  

 Technology plays a major role in learning. Based upon the “Connectivist” theory, learners are connected or become informed through different nodes, such as social media’s -facebook, twitter, and flicker – which threads discussions for all. Still, software programs such as Microsoft Office include programs such as Excel to create spreadsheet to organize data and create charts. Adults use online programs to share learning experiences with a community of learners.