What is Learning?
Learning is the act of gaining knowledge in a specific area. One of the greatest way to assess what has been learned is by physical evidence. As mentioned in the first post for this class, most of my knowledge about learning theories is that of behaviorism. One of the strong points of behaviorism is that learning requires an observable change. For example, if I am teaching students how to go grocery shopping, after the instructional unit, I would test their knowledge by observing if they could 1) make a list of ingredients for a specific meal 2)travel to the grocery store 3) find the needed ingredients 4) pay for the items 5) put items away in appropriate places. If a student could successfully complete the lists of tasks over multiple times, I would conclude that the student had in fact learned how to go grocery shopping. In sum, learning can definitely be an observable change in behavior. I do not believe this is the only form of learning, but I think it is one of the major ways in the school system checks for learning.
A contrasting example might be, during my Calculus class I took in college, I learned how to be disciplined in studying at the math lab for two hours each day. I was not tested on this, but I personally learned this was the only way I would succeed in passing this class.
How can learning be best effectuated by a teacher/trainer?
I use principles of behaviorism all of the time when teaching students with severe special needs. For example, I taught a nonverbal student sign language. We worked on signing the letter W for a very long time, it was difficult for her to keep three fingers strait while grasping her thumb and pinky fingers. We would praise her efforts when she could successfully keep one finger up, then two fingers up, then finally three fingers up.
I also use the principle of positive reinforcement all of the time. It usually takes the form of verbal specific praise. For example, I might tell a student thanks for raising your hand. Reinforcement is all around us. I don't think I would be a teach school, if I didn't have the scheduled reinforcement of a pay check!
Additionally, I use the principle of chaining all of the time. I task analysize skills to make them into manageable steps for students with disabilities. For my lesson plan I am teaching how to introduce yourself. That skill is broken up into five steps; smile, look at the person, give a salutation, state name, and shake hands. This may seem very simplistic to most students, but many students with sever special needs need tasks broken up into very small chunks.
What does all of this have to do with being an effective teacher? I think a effective teacher, teaches content so that her learners understand, and can succeed. I also believe an effective teacher gives feedback both positive and negetive.
