DTLLS - Level 5 - Unit 405

Unit 405 Applying Theories and Principles for Planning and Enabling inclusive Learning and Teaching Level 5 DTLLS / Diploma in Teaching in the Lifelong Learning Sector From JEZI - UK Date 27th October 2014 Unit 405 Part A Define what is meant by Theory to me it is an idea of how something works. It is a way of explaining to others the concept of the how and why of something should be done logically. The Theories of Learning according to Reece Walker (2007) that states The five main areas are Behaviourism, Neo-behaviourism, Gestalt (Insight), Cognitive Development, and Humanists, as well as more recently theorised areas of lifelong learning, but Geoff Petty (2009) explains that Theories of Learning can be separated into three main schools of thought 1) The behaviourist school. 2) The cognitivist school. 3) The humanist school. Behaviourist school of thought is concerned completely with learned behaviour, and is interested in looking at behavior and observable changes, the learners react more to teaching rather than being actively involved in the process. Cognitivist is interested in looking at the thought processes behind the behavior, for example encoding information into short term and long term memory. Therefore cognitivist is the theory that humans generate knowledge and meaning through a sequence of development, such as the mental processes of recognition, recollection, analysis, reflection, application, creation, understanding, and evaluation. Humanist learner is able to adapt prior knowledge to new experience. The teachers role in humanistic learning is to encourage and enable the learner, by providing access to appropriate resources without obtrusive interference. The learning goal is high order learning of procedural knowledge, strategy, reasoning, abstract analysis, and development of expertise. All three learning theories have some common ground with each other. They all agree that learners respond better with positive