Subject: Educational Psychology

Topic: Q3. Can you suggest there is ONLY one way

(school of thought) applied
to the concept of learning (Yes./ No) Prove it.

Course: M.ED

Semester: I

Course supervisor: Ms Parveen

Submitted by: Rima Hadi Mohd

Q3. Can you suggest there is ONLY one way (school of thought) applied
to the concept of learning (Yes./ No) Prove it.

No. In my opinion, there are different schools of thought applied to the concept of learning.  All
learners are not the same. Students learn in different ways; the experience in the classroom
confirms this every day. Most educators can talk about learning differences, whether by the name
of learning styles, cognitive styles, psychological type, or multiple intelligences. Learners bring
their own individual approach, talents and interests to the learning situation. We also know that
an individual learner's culture, family background, and socioeconomic level affect his or her
learning.
Most schools still function as if all students were the same. Students use the same textbooks and
the same materials for learning. They work at the same pace on the same quantity of material.
They study the same content and work through the same curriculum on the same schedule.
Teachers talk with whole groups of students, delivering the same information at the same time to
everyone. And, of course, schools use the same tests for all to measure the success of the
learning.  
If we see in our Pakistani system we follow different schools of thoughts for the development of
students .Different learning theories are applied in our schools e.g.
 Behaviorism
 Cognitivisim
 Constructivism
 Multiple intelligence

Behaviorism:
Behaviorism theory was presented by Thorndike. Behaviorism is described as a developmental
theory that measures observable behaviors produced by a learner’s response to stimuli.
Responses to stimuli can be reinforced with positive or negative feedback to condition desired
behaviors. Punishment is sometimes used in eliminating or reducing incorrect actions, followed
by clarifying desired actions. Educational effects of behaviorism are key in developing basic
skills and foundations of understanding in all subject areas and in classroom management.
According to behaviorism, knowing is giving the correct response when exposed to a particular
stimulus. The behaviorist is not concerned with how or why knowledge is obtained, but rather if
the correct response is given.  Behaviorism states that, “Learning is defined as nothing more than
the acquisition of new behavior”.
In our schooling system how it will apply
for example:Contiguity plays a vital role, the teacher bang a table with ruler to gain student’s
attention of those who did not do home work and there was no response(neutral stimuli).Now
teacher banged the table and called out students to punish them for not doing homework and
students were fearful and stood up for their seats.punishmnet was (unconditioned stimuli) and
coming out of seats fearfully was (unconditioned response).whenever teacher bang the table with
ruler the defaulters automatically leave their seats fearfully knowing that they will be punished.
No conditioning is required. Now sound of banging the table is a conditioned stimuli and
students leaving seats is conditioned response. This is normally going on in our schools.
Cognitivisim

Cognition theory was presented by john Piaget it is based on stages. Jean Piaget was one of the
most influential cognitive psychologists.  He was a student of biology and zoology and learnt
that survival requires adaptation. Therefore he viewed the development of human cognition, or
intelligence, as the continual struggle of a very complex organism trying to adapt to a very
complex environment.  According to Piaget´s theory, human development can be outlined in
terms of functions and cognitive structures.  The functions are inborn biological processes that
are identical for every one and stay unchanged throughout our lives. His key concepts are
(schemas, adaption, assimilation, accommodation, equilibrium).In our school students also
fellow this chain they have their schema then they adapt new knowledge then assimilate in this
way the process or learning is going on.

Constructivism:
Bruner is under the cognitive constructivism school of thought which stresses individual and
inner construction of knowledge.constructivism,a cognitive development theory that contends
that learning is an: active process in which learners construct new ideas or concepts based upon
their current/past knowledge” He has given us important concepts about learning. According to
bruner, knowledge representation develops in 3 stages:
Enactive
Iconic
Symbolic

 Enactive: During earliest childhood, learning occurs through movement or action. The
stage in which learning is based on hands on experiences of physical objects together
with the consequences that goes after. Knowledge is represented through sense. You may
have noticed this among children who learn through touching and manipulation objects,
smelling flowers, tasting a fruit, etc.however; this doesn’t mean that this type of
representation is only for babies or young children. This could also mean manipulative
learning of objects for example learning how to use a microscope, to ride in a bicycle, or
practicing how to dance, to do stunts, or to play a musical instruments.

 Iconic: During the middle childhood, knowledge can now be represented using models
and pictures. Learners know how to make mental images of their world. This can be seen
on books full of brightly colored pictures that are being used to teach children.

 Symbolic: During adolescence Leaner’s can think in abstract .so abstract terms and
symbol systems can be used to represent knowledge like numbers, mathematical
symbols, letters and language. This is the reason why most of the books in college don’t
have so many pictures compared to books used in elementary.
We called it active learning which is very necessary for students either students are adult or
young but its very important for their active learning process.
Multiple Intelligences:
Howard Gardner initially formulated a list of seven intelligences. His listing was provisional.
The first two have been typically valued in schools; the next three are usually associated with the
arts; and the final two are what Howard Gardner called 'personal intelligences'.Now a days
mostly teachers are applying these intelligence in their classroom teaching by which they can
easily evaluate the students

Linguistic intelligence involves sensitivity to spoken and written language, the ability to learn
languages, and the capacity to use language to accomplish certain goals. Writers, poets, lawyers
and speakers are among those that Howard Gardner sees as having high linguistic intelligence.

Logical-mathematical intelligence consists of the capacity to analyze problems logically, carry

out mathematical operations, and investigate issues scientifically. This intelligence is most often
associated with scientific and mathematical thinking.

Musical intelligence involves skill in the performance, composition, and appreciation of musical
patterns. It encompasses the capacity to recognize and compose musical pitches, tones, and
rhythms. According to Howard Gardner musical intelligence runs in an almost structural parallel
to linguistic intelligence.

Bodily-kinesthetic intelligence entails the potential of using one's whole body or parts of the
body to solve problems. It is the ability to use mental abilities to coordinate bodily movements.
Howard Gardner sees mental and physical activity as related.

Spatial intelligence involves the potential to recognize and use the patterns of wide space and
more confined areas.

Interpersonal intelligence is concerned with the capacity to understand the intentions,

motivations and desires of other people. It allows people to work effectively with others.
Educators, salespeople, religious and political leaders and counselors all need a well-developed
interpersonal intelligence.

Intrapersonal intelligence entails the capacity to understand oneself, to appreciate one's

feelings, fears and motivations. In Howard Gardner's view it involves having an effective
working model of ourselves, and to be able to use such information to regulate our lives.

These are the seven intelligence now 3 more added

Naturalist
Spiritual
Moral

These all are the different theory which applies in our system may be few more are applied but in
my opinion these are applied. These school of thoughts are using by different teachers in their
teaching through their way of teaching students can learn it is important for us
Conclusion:
To conclude, I believe that in education neither constructivism nor behaviorism or cognitive
etc have all the answers. As a teacher, one must find a midpoint, a way to combine the best
aspects of all in order to provide the best learning environment and results. Its totally depend on
teacher or schooling system that which school of thought they will apply for their students
learning process.