Evaluate the major theories of learning, using examples from work placement

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Task1- Evaluate the major theories of learning, using examples from work placement - D1

In this essay I am going evaluate the theories of learning that I have already described. I will compare them and consider strengths and weaknesses and I will use examples from my placement to support my arguments.

As I have already described, there are four major theories relating to children’s learning. First I will evaluate the transmission model which is a theory that assumes all behaviours are learned from the environment. Children do learn by association (classical conditioning) and this was demonstrated by Pavlov he rang a bell when the dogs were fed. If the bell was sounded in close association with their meal, the dogs learnt to associate the sound of the bell with food. After a while, at the mere sound of the bell, they responded by salivating. This theory also works with children. The advantages of this theory is that children will learn through repeated behaviour patterns for example in my setting when it’s time to tidy up all the toys the class teacher shakes a maraca and children then know straight away that they have to tidy up and then sit on a blue chair. Children will also learn through direct experience.

Skinner believes that positive encouragement such as praising has a great influence on how children act. It is important that we all give a positive encouragement when the child has a pleasant behaviour. In my setting children are constantly being praised if they use good manners, for example when the teacher is giving out the dinners children are encouraged to say please and thank you, if the class teacher hears the child using these words she praises the child, or if a child is sitting nicely on the mat, she ensures she tells the rest of the children that that child is a very good girl/boy because she is sitting the way they should. This is a good way to encourage children to have good manners and also it helps other children because if a child has been praised and the other child hears it, it is more likely for that child it to also to say “please and thank you”. Although Skinner also believes punishment is important when children behave badly. In my setting, when a child hits another child, a member of staff puts a child straight away on a naughty chair and explains that hitting is not allowed in her classroom. The strength of skinner’s theory is that he found a way to alter or modify unwanted behaviour. Although, the transmission model has disadvantages because all the strategies to alter unwanted behaviour may unable children to take risks in play and exploration and children should be encouraged to use their curiosity as they have a desire to find out for themselves. And also because adults take charge of learning process, children are not seen as active learners so this is also an advantage.

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The laissez-faire views are the opposite idea of the Transmission model. The laissez-faire model theory is about children learning naturally which means that the environment does not influence children’s learning and development. The disadvantage about this is that children are programmed before birth as to their developmental level.
A theorist called Noam Chomsky believed that children have their brain structure and that they develop their language skills so the children are able to apply grammar rules correctly when they speak without adult’s intervention so it comes out naturally (
). One of the advantages of this theory is that children’s development ...

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