Psychology of learning

Introduction

There are different theories of learning. This paper discusses Behaviorism, Cognitivism, Constructivism, and Humanism as applied to learning. It also describes different perspectives stemming from learning theories that are important to teach managers so they can better understand their employees learning needs.

Behaviorism, Cognitivism, Constructivism, and Humanism as applied to learning

Behaviorists view learners as basically passive and just respond to stimuli. Learning occurs in a black box and focuses on observable behavior. Stimuli and nature of reward and punishment are the factors that influence learning. Behaviorism theory best explains task-based learning.  Cognitivism is of the view that learners amass and retrieve information for use afterward. Previous experiences and existing schema are among the factors that influence learning. The role of the memory is to encode, store and retrieve information. This theory best explains problem-solving, reasoning and clear objectives types of learning. Constructivism view is learning as an active process in which learners construct concepts or new ideas based upon present or past knowledge.  Humanistic perspective views learning as an active process where learners participate actively in learning activities (Davis, 2010).

Perspectives that would be important to teach managers so they can better understand their employees

Associative Learning

The learning principle implies that experiences and ideas can be linked to each other as they reinforce each other. The role of memory is to hardwire repeated experiences where punishment and reward have the most impact.

Social Constructivism

Socialconstructivism involves having learners construct knowledge through social processes such as conversations and sharing ideas. Motivation, as well as social interactions, impacts the construction.

Problem-Based Learning

The problem-based learning involves building an environment around a scenario in which learners can take on considerable roles within it. The learners utilize the information processing to convey and take in new information. Learning occurs in a computational and structured way.

Discovery Learning

Engage learners in an active process and allow them to construct concepts or new ideas based on present or past knowledge

Maslow’s theory

Managers can use this theory to determine why an employee behaves differently in different situations. It guides them to understand human behavior and launch motivational practices.

Situated Cognition

Involves active process where learners participate actively in learning activities.  The training strategy attempts to bring the realistic situation to the learner.

Self-determination Theory

Learners determine the method of learning, learning materials, quantity of learning and recognize making a right or wrong choice as completely the learners’ responsibility.

Employees’ training strategies

Mentoring

Mentoring focuses on fostering a positive attitude and improving an individual’s general skill set.

Coaching

It is a more specific way of training employees to ensure that they have information and skills required to complete a particular task.

Lectures

Training materials are presented verbally. It is an effective way of training a large number of employees.

Role-playing and simulations

The training strategy attempts to bring the realistic situation to the learner.

Job rotation

It entails involving employees in a series of tasks associated with different jobs.

Audiovisual methods

Audiovisual methods include videotapes, television and other effective means of providing real world situations in a short span of time.

Programmed learning

Programmed learning uses computer aided instructions and allows the learner to learn at their own pace.

How each strategy would help ensure learning is taking place?

Mentoring, Coaching, and Lectures will allow the learners to utilize the information processing to convey and take in new information.  Role-playing and simulations, Job rotation, audiovisual methods and Programmed learning involve an active process where learners participate actively in learning activities (Marsick & Watkins, 2015).

Conclusion

Learning theories can be employed in workplace settings to effectively guide employee behavior and promote desired behaviors that employees can adapt to enhance success. It is important to recognize that every employee has their particular way of learning.

References

Davis, S. F. (2010). Psychology of learning. Wiley-Blackwell.

Marsick, V. J., & Watkins, K. (2015). Informal and Incidental Learning in the Workplace (Routledge Revivals). Routledge.

Dochy, F., Gijbels, D., Segers, M., & Van den Bossche, P. (2012). Theories of learning: Routledge. 
Sherry Roberts is the author of this paper. A senior editor at Melda Research in research paper services 
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