Meaningful reception learning: A process of learning that requires relevant information to be systematically and sequentially attached to existing information. There are four types of processes this theory: derivative subsumption, correlative subsumption, superordinate learning, and combinatorial learning. Proposed by David Ausubel.
Example: Jackie learns more about what a table is by systematically adding its features to her mental picture of it. She might first start with legs then a flat surface on top then items that can be placed on top of that flat surface.
Resrouces:
http://pioneeringtheoriesoflearning.wikispaces.com/Meaningful+Reception+Learning+Theory
http://fpmipa.upi.edu/data/report_activity/9875881844.pdf
Mental models: these are cognitive representations of physical or imagined objects, situations, or subjects. They are used in the learning process collect and construct an understanding of certain things. Mental models can be examined to study how a person reasons.
Example: I have a mental model in my head of the city of London which includes the Tower of London, London Bridge, Abbey Road, and Buckingham Palace. While this model does not fully represent the city of London, it serves as a generalized construct of what I understand the city to be.
Resources:
http://mentalmodels.princeton.edu/about/what-are-mental-models/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUVEovGNkQM
Metacognition: Sometimes described as the process of “thinking about thinking,” this can be used as a method of learning that requires active awareness of cognitive functions and self-directing mental states for desired purposes or outcomes.
Example: I might use my metacognition skills to consciously look up and read all of the information on learning theories that exist and then reflecting on what I’ve learned. This might take me a lifetime, but I will be actively aware of this activity as opposed to learning to avoid a pothole I’ve seen for the first time, which would be subconscious way of learning.
Resources:
http://gse.buffalo.edu/fas/shuell/cep564/metacog.htm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVE21QhY-lI
Method of loci: A type of mnemonic device that has historically been used since at least the ancient Greeks which involves imagining a place such as your house and “storing” information in rooms and locations within the mental image of your house.
Example: I imagine my apartment and place the information I know about B.F. Skinner in the kitchen with individual concepts like operant conditioning in the fridge and his year of birth in the microwave. Using this method, I can easily return to my apartment image and recall the information based on its location within my mental construct.
Resource:
http://psychcentral.com/lib/memory-and-mnemonic-devices/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VcIfKkhc6B0
Miller’s magic number: a theory that posits a majority of adults can store plus or minus seven pieces of information in “slots” in their short-term memory. To improve the capacity of these “slots” it may be possible to expand them through chunking. See: chunking
Example: I might have nine phone numbers memorized and there’s a possibility that if I try to learn a tenth number that I will forget one of the nine previous numbers.
Resources:
http://www.simplypsychology.org/short-term-memory.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCgYBPHUSUM
Mnemonics: learning tools used to aid or help improve the acquisition of knowledge. There are many types of mnemonics and one type might be useful to some people while ineffective for others. Mnemonics are useful for encoding and storing information relatively fast and efficiently.
Example: One type of mnemonic that I find very helpful is the use of acronyms to remember a set of words. For instance, in Biology class I had to memorize the taxonomy order: Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, and Species. I memorized this as KPCOFGS with the fun sentence: Kids Playing Catch On Freeways Get Smashed.
Resources:
http://faculty.bucks.edu/specpop/mnemonics.htm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQzFNBSpK6w
Modeling: Described in Bandura’s work on children as a process of imitation that facilitates learning. His famous Bobo doll experiment focused on child aggression.
Example: Judith’s daughter Jenny watches her use the remote control to turn on the TV. Jenny models this behavior to learn how to turn on the TV.
Resources:
http://psychology.jrank.org/pages/428/Modeling.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pr0OTCVtHbU
MOOC: An acronym for Massive Open Online Course, which is a model for creating an Internet-based learning community where anyone anywhere can join. Some courses are free while other might have low entrance or completion fees. MOOCs are advantageous for students who do not want to travel to class or cannot afford to pay for on-campus classes.
Example: MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) has a number of MOOCs that are available to anyone anywhere.
Resources:
http://www.educause.edu/library/massive-open-online-course-mooc
Motivation: occurs when reasons for performing a behavior are present in an individual. This is considered by some to be an important component in effective learning. Theories of learning include intrinsic and extrinsic motivation.
Example: I am motivated to get an A in Dr. Bonk’s P540 course because I want to learn more about improving my teaching skills and ultimately receive a Master’s degree in Education.
Resources:
http://gsi.berkeley.edu/gsi-guide-contents/learning-theory-research/motivation/
http://psychology.about.com/od/mindex/g/motivation-definition.htm