Elaboration theory: proposes that information is best learned when learning strategies involve acquiring basic information first then progressing sequentially to higher more complex information.
Example: Jodi wants to learn how to build a computer. She might first read about the history of computers, then move on to learning about computer components, then to dismantling a computer to view its insides, then on to acquiring the components and building one herself.
Resources:
http://www.instructionaldesign.org/theories/elaboration-theory.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBSrlVOta9U
Enactive Mastery Experience: a component of the self-efficacy theory model, this term describes how successes for an individual can lead to more learning whereas failure can lead to avoidance of learning.
Example: I tried to take an advanced biology course during my undergraduate career. I failed miserably. As a result of this failure, I resisted attempting any more biology related courses.
Resources:
http://www.uky.edu/~eushe2/Pajares/effbook3.html
http://www.citeman.com/2923-self-efficacy-theory.html
Encoding specificity: Proposed by Endel Tulving and used by learners to quickly and efficiently retrieve information that is stored in memory.
Example: Judy can use context to help myself remember Christmas carols by encoding a specific place such as a front doorstep to link with the carols she is trying to remember.
Resources:
https://coglab.cengage.com/labs/encoding_specificity.shtml
http://alicekim.ca/9.ESP73.pdf
Expectations: can be used to describe a desired outcome of a behavior. Expectations may or may not be rational and can profoundly affect the quality of learning depending on a number of variables.
Example: Many people move to the US and their expectation is to live out the American Dream so they begin to learn English to improve their chances of that happening. However not all people who speak English, in fact most people, do not get to live the American Dream.
Resources:
http://iteslj.org/Techniques/Bennett-Expectations.html
http://www.education.com/reference/article/teachers-expectations-affect-learning/
Extinction: when a conditioned response slowly weakens and eventually the behavior is no longer exhibited. This can happen when a reinforcement is no longer seen as a reward. This term in relation to behaviorist theories.
Example: James thinks pizza tastes delicious. The taste reinforces the behavior of ordering pizza every night. One night after eating pizza he gets bad indigestion and this continues to happen every night he eats pizza. Eventually the good taste of pizza is no longer seen as a reward for James and he stops ordering pizza.
Resources: