Thoughts on Learning Theories and My Teaching Philosophy

The learning theorists you have reviewed have a variety of differing ideas and theories about how we learn and the most effective ways to construct instruction to help enhance that learning. Which theory or theories align most with your teaching philosophy? Which align least? Why? Which theory or theories are most effective for enhancing your teaching and instructional planning?

In the past, when I have studied different learning ideas and theories, I have had a difficult time committing myself to adopting one particular theory or set of theories and only utilizing those ideas in my teaching methods. Over the course of this process however, I have come to realize that I do not have to select one particular theory and always develop my teaching practices around that idea, but rather I can take elements from various theories to construct a teaching method that best suits the needs of my students. When considering which theories align most with my teaching philosophy, I find myself most in agreement with both cognitive and constructivist theories. The idea that the teacher serves as a guide to assist students in the learning process, as well as the notion that students can actively participate in constructing  their own understanding of information are beliefs that I feel align with the way that I view the teaching/learning process.

After completing our group project and examining other theories, I found that I really identified with different aspects of the theories of David Ausubel  and Robert Gagne. Ausubel believed that the best way to learn new information is to develop ways to associate that information with existing information, thus allowing the information to be transferred into long term memory. Gagne viewed the learning of new, higher- level skills as a process that depended greatly upon mastering lower-level skills.  Both of these theorists viewed the idea of learning as a hierarchal process where new, higher-level skills can best be acquired by building upon existing knowledge. I believe that this idea aligns well with my teaching philosophy because I feel as though the most effective way for students to learn information is for them to be able to make it relevant by relating it to and building upon what they already know. Ausubel stressed the importance of meaningful learning over rote memorization, while Gagne also focused on the mastery of intellectual or higher-level thinking skills. I feel as though I want my students to be able to develop a strong knowledge base that will allow them to master learning more complex skills and I believe that the higher-level learning / meaningful learning that is highlighted by these theories, is what I should strive for my students to achieve.

Of the theories that I have studied, I believe that behaviorist theories align least with my teaching philosophy, simply due to the fact that I feel as though the learning process is not as “concrete” as it appears to be portrayed through the behaviorist viewpoint. After viewing more information about behaviorist theories, such as B.F. Skinner’s theory of operant conditioning, I can understand how this theory has influenced teaching/learning. We all can learn certain information through the process of receiving rewards and facing negative consequences. When it comes to learning basic principles and behaviors, I understand how this approach can result in learning. For instance, if a student is misbehaving in class and receives punishment as a result of that behavior, the hope is that they will learn that negative consequences accompany such behavior and refrain from behaving the same in the future, as to avoid the negative consequences.  I feel as though this theory continues to impact learning, but I also think that it fails to consider the broader aspects of the learning process. In my opinion, greater and more “in depth” learning can occur if the learners take a more active role in their learning.

When it comes to helping to enhance my teaching and instructional planning, I think that the theory of social learning presented by Albert Bandura can be beneficial. Bandura’s theory revolves around the idea that individuals learn new skills by observing and modeling those skills. Sometimes I forget just how much students seem to model certain behaviors when they are of a particular age. I can see how this could be beneficial in my teaching because I not only serve as the instructor, but I am also often the model by which my students will learn through observation. As their teacher, I want to ensure that I correctly model both the behaviors and skills that I want them to learn. In addition, I think that planning lessons that allow students the opportunity to learn through observation and modeling could assist my students in gaining a better understanding of the information being presented to them.  One other theory that I really feel could have a positive influence on my teaching and instructional planning is the discovery learning theory developed by Jerome Bruner. This theory revolves around the idea of “inquiry-based learning”, where learners essentially work to construct their own meanings and associations about new information. I feel as though if I can plan activities or lessons that are more in line with this theory of constructivism, it could allow my students to develop a deeper understanding of the material being presented.