Assignment Form

Higher Diploma in Medical Education

The Course Coordinator

Department of Medical Education

P.O. Box 30195

Nairobi-Kenya

Name                      : Jotham Miyawa Munala                       

Mobile phone         : +254725486421       

Date of submission: 19th May 2020   

Module                   : 6                      

Unit                         : 1                            

Assignment            : Learning Theories in Education     (Resubmission)

Date received in the department………………………………………………………

Note: Please attaché the original draft to any resubmission(s) or where you have been asked to provide a fair copy for one reason or the other.

                          Learning Theories in Education

Introduction

A theory is a supposition or a system of ideas intended to explain something, especially one based on general principles independent of what to be taught. Learning theories are principles that define how best a student can acquire, retain, and recall new information. Learning is an enduring change in behavior, or the capacity to behave in a given fashion, which results from practice or other forms of experience (Chunk, 2012). Learning can also be seen as a relatively permanent change of behavior as a result of experience (Holland, 2018).

Implications of Learning Theories to Health Professional Trainer

Medical teachers have benefited a lot from the various learning theories in several ways in the endeavor of training health professional learners. Some of the benefits of learning theories have enabled the medical teacher to know how to develop a curriculum (Filipatali, 2013). The use of proper curriculum is crucial whenever one is teaching medical students so that they can become competent health workers at the end of the training.

Learning theories have enabled the medical teacher to think critically, and know-how should be passed to the student (Goel, 2017). Since different learning theories explain differently how students should be taught, teachers have been able to give information to students individually. This has enabled the teacher to pass knowledge through the following ways. First, by being the primary source of information, secondly, by allowing the student to learn from each other and thirdly by adding information based on what each student knows concerning the topic being taught. In addition, it has enabled the teacher to solve some psychological problems among the students. Different students present with different types of behaviors; hence this has equipped the teacher to deal with students using different approaches.

Constructivist Learning Theory

It is based mainly that individuals construct new ideas on concepts based on previous knowledge, and it believes medical students at least know something (Kelly, 2012). This theory has facilitated learning in various ways since it acknowledges that one has at least some information; hence it enhances a sense of ownership and appreciation. The medical teacher can give Physiotherapy students an assignment that requires an application such as by giving students a task on a clinical case study. By doing this, the student will apply knowledge to the new situation; hence knowledge transfer and skills development increase.

Activation of prior knowledge is vital since it enhances learning (Kay and Kibble, 2016).  before the medical teacher starts any topic, they can ask the students what they know about it. By doing this, students will be able to contribute what they know, and if they were wrong, then a proper answer will be given by the medical teacher. This leads to learning since, after correction, one will be able to understand it better and not repeat the same mistake or become more knowledgeable. Engaging students actively is also vital by providing them with a series of questions that either they are supposed to answer in class or by themselves. By answering these questions, students will increase their level of knowledge and understanding (Chunk, 2012).

It helps students be involved in collaborative learning—this whereby students learn as a group to find a solution to a given problem. The medical teacher can assign students to assignments in small groups, and through this, students will learn a lot through critical thinking. They are also giving students’ research projects important in learning. Since one has to research further so that you accomplish the research projects and through this level of knowledge in medical students increase. Moreover, cognitive learning facilitates learning in such a way that it ensures the medical teacher designs instructions for students to follow. These instructions encourage the student to study.

Social Learning Theory

Albert Bandura founded this learning theory that postulates that learning takes place from a social perspective. It involves four main processes attention, retention, reproduction, and motivation (McLeod, 2016). To attract the attention of Physiotherapy learners, the use of instructional materials is critical so that students. This is where I will incorporate technology with verbal lectures so that the students’ interest will be aroused with arousal. Students tend to learn and grasp a lot of information; hence, they will not forget easily. For the information to be retained well, asking students questions concerning that unit that has been taught is essential.

This theory postulates that students learn by observation, imitation, and modeling (Cherry, 2019). The following can be put into practice to facilitate the learning of Physiotherapy students through observation, imitation, and modeling. By allowing students to see what experts are doing this is by taking students to the hospital so that they observe those practices that have been taught in class theoretically. By following the procedure done by either a teacher, they will be able to learn how to do it and thus end up doing it. Then make students do the procedure after exposure once they do it will stick into their mind, and it will be hard for one to forget what they have done practically.

Inviting and incorporating senior qualified Physiotherapists will enhance learning because of motivation; the skilled team will act as role models since the students will have that urge to study more and more so that they can reach that limit. Students learn through interaction (Nabavi, 2012). This will be enhanced by assigning students different assignments in groups when in these groups, each is supposed to contribute; hence through these groups, students will learn more. Besides, giving rewards after accomplishing a task will make the student have that spirit to do more and more hence more learning will be enhanced. Motivation tends to provide students the moral of learning since they know in the end, they will be something they will be able to attain.

Behavioural Learning Theory

The leading theorists are Pavlov, Watson, and Skinner. Behavioral learning theory observes and measures an aspect of a human’s environment, action, and consequences (McCain, 2013).  This theory encourages the use of stimuli and reinforcement whenever one is teaching.  It is more of teacher-centered rather than student-centered (Kay and Kibble, 2016) to facilitate the learning provision of information fully to the student, which is very important. This will be enhanced by providing students with all the information, such as by giving notes, handouts, and lecturing on what students need to learn to be able to become a competent Physiotherapist. In addition, the making of well-structured curriculum books since students will only read what is in that book.

The use of reinforcement is also essential whenever lecturing students in a behavioral set-up. In addition, giving students assignments that they are supposed to complete to earn a reward after passing. Hence, this will increase the speed and psyche of the task since there is a reward in the end. The grading scale is also key such that grades can be classified into A, B, C, and others. This will make students strive to get the best since no one wants to get the last grade (McCain, 2013).

Moreover, it encourages the implementation of punishment. To make Physiotherapy students learn well in class use of punishment is very important. As a medical teacher, whenever I encounter any student making noise in class without permission sending the student out of class, or any other form of punishment is important. This is to ensure that a conducive learning environment is available to avoid any distraction whenever teaching. In addition, any student who fails to do an assignment will be punished accordingly. The threats will make the student fear making mistakes because there will be a harsh punishment. For information to stick well, and students to acquire knowledge, repetition of that content over and over again will happen since practice makes perfect.

Cognitive Learning Theory

The main theorists are Piaget, Wilson, and Gagne. McCain (2013) notes that this theory learning occurs through internal processes and that learning is student-centered and not lecture-centered. This is enhanced by providing students with exercises that they are supposed to research and answer accordingly after completing the assignment, submission follows, and marking is done. This will enhance learning since one has to read to answers the questions provided accordingly. In addition, they are giving students a guide on how to connect new information to what they already know. With this, they can understand well how the information that was taught before and that has been taught recently correlate; hence proper guidance and learning takes place (Kay and Kibble, 2016).

Kelly (2012) notes that in cognitive theory, critical thinking is key, and for this to take place, engaging learners in problem-solving situations is very critical. For instance, high order questions can be given to learners after teaching students a concept. This is due to the reason that high order question makes learners think critically since that problem has to be solved. More so, such questions will lead to thorough research thoroughly. With this at hand, the students will be able to think critically and enhance more in-depth learning and making decisions accordingly (Chunk, 2012).

Stimuli facilitate the transfer of knowledge from short to long term (Kay and Kibble, 2016). The use of different stimuli by the medical teacher to facilitate learning is essential. This happens in various ways. For instance, after teaching students about a process, a medical teacher can show students either the images or videos and by watching the video since all the senses will be used. This will make that process learn to stick permanently; hence, the student can not forget it easily. In addition, organizing information well is important since if that concept is well explained, then the student will learn logically by providing concept maps for proper guidance. Moreover, chunking of information in such a way that you classify it well does not give too much. By providing notes in small quantities, the student will grasp it well since too much of something is poisonous (Kelly, 2012).

Conclusion

It is of no doubt earning theories that learning theories have assisted medical teachers in facilitating learning to their students not only in Physiotherapy but in all the spheres of education. Medical educators who utilize the various learning theories handle their lessons not only effectively but also efficiently and professionally. Consequently, medical teachers should be able to adopt a learning theory that fits well education demands of their leaners. It is also vital to use all the theories in combination so that the students can learn as a whole. Therefore, the medical education program needs to cover a unit in Learning Theories besides other important units.

References

Anon., (2018). Learning Theories: Understanding 4 major ones for the classroom. [Online] Available at: http://leaderinme.org/blog/learning-theories /[Accessed 11 May 2020].

Cherry, K. (2019). How Social Learning Theory works. [Online]
Available at: http://verywellmind.com/social-learning-theory-279504 [Accessed 19 May 2020].

Chunk, D. H. (2012). Learning Theories: An Educational Perspective. [Online] Available at: http://thepeakperformance.com/educational-learning/learning/theories [Accessed 19 May 2020].

Filipatali, T. (2013). Learning Theories. Their influence on Teaching Methods. [Online]
Available at: http://grin.com/document/293498 [Accessed 18 May 2020].

Fulbrok, P. S. (2019). 15 Learning Theories in Education(A complete summary). [Online]
Available at: http://teacherofsci.com/learning-theories-in-education/ [Accessed 18 May 2020].

Goel, T. (2017). Why we need Learning Theories. [Online] Available at: http://tarunagoel.blogspot.com/2017/08/why-we-need-learning-theories-html [Accessed 19 May 2020].

Holland, B. (2018). Arriving at a Definition of Learning. [Online] Available at: http://edutopia.com/articles/arriving-definition-learning [Accessed 18 May 2020].

Kay, D., and Kibble, J. (2016). Learning Theories 101: application to everyday teaching and scholarship. Advances in Physiology Education, 40(1), pp. 17-25.

Kelly, J. (2012). Learning Theories. [Online] Available at: http://thepeakperformance.com/educational-learning/learning/theories [Accessed 19May 2020].

McCain, L. H. (2013). An explanation of learning theories and their application in the classroom: A critical perspective. [Online] Available at: http://static/squarespace.com/static/55d262f2e4b05b3ce73b91a7/u/56313343b0a11c59914a114460649635191%Blena+H, McCain%5D+Thesis+2013.pdf [Accessed 19 May 2020].

McLeod, S. A. (2016). Bandura Social Learning Theory. [Online] Available at: http://simplypyschology.org/bandura.html [Accessed 19 May 2020].

Nabavi, R. T. (2012). Bandura’s Social Learning Theory and Social Cognitive Learning Theory. [Online] Available at: http://researchgate.net/publication/267750204-Bandura’s-social-learning-theory-social-cognitive-learning-theory [Accessed 18 May 2020].