Applying Learning Theory to Life

Preparation is key to any good research paper and presentation. Next week, you will be creating your Final Paper and Presentation. It is important to begin gathering your information and sources to fulfill this project successfully. For your Final Paper, you will be designing a training module proposal (not a full training module). The title of this training module is “The Importance of Understanding Your Learners’ Needs”. Essentially, you will be proposing the information you would include for assisting managers gain knowledge in how to meet the learning needs of their departmental employees.

Based on your developed knowledge about learning theory, this week you will be developing the “bones” for your final paper/presentation. Thus, you are organizing the information you will apply and fully develop  next week, as well as, confirm your understanding of each area of content to be included.

Required elements:

1. Explain Behaviorism, Cognitivism, Constructivism, and Humanism as applied to learning.
2. List and briefly (two or three sentences) describe seven perspectives/principles that you have learned about that you think would be important to teach managers so they can better understand their employees’ learning needs. These perspectives (principles) will be aligned with Behaviorism, Cognitivism, Constructivism, or Humanism.

Examples include:

• From Behaviorism (associationistic models of learning)
  • Associative Learning , Classical Conditioning , Operant Conditioning, Conditioning, Extinction, and Ratio/Interval Schedules
• From Cognition (the cognitive science of information processing representations of learning).
  • Schema Theory, dialectical processing, Problem-Based Learning, memory development, categorization, Elaboration theory (i.e. Bloom’s Taxonomy), spiral curriculum, memory development, and coding.
• From Constructivism (conceptions of knowledge are derived from the process of constructing individual interpretations of one’s experiences)
  • Cognitive Constructivism, Social Constructivism, Situated Cognition, Social Learning Theory, Zone of Proximal Development, and Discovery Learning
• From Humanism
  • Motivational theories of learning (i.e. Self-determination Theory, Maslow’s hierarchy of Needs), Emotional Intelligence development, Multiple Intelligences, Experiential Learning , and Steiner pedagogy or Waldorf education.

1. List and briefly explain seven strategies that could be applied in training based on the areas we have learned about the past weeks that you think would be the most successful based on the learning group.
2. Explain how each strategy would help ensure learning is taking place.

Examples include:

• From Behaviorism (associationistic models of learning)
  • Rewards and Punishments
• From Cognition (the cognitive science of information processing representations of learning)
  • Practice, scaffolding of the content, repetition of curriculum/content, and application of Bloom’s Taxonomy
• From Constructivism (conceptions of knowledge are derived from the process of constructing individual interpretations of one’s experiences)
  • Scaffolding by the instructor, interactive learning as seen in role-playing, discussions, and  discovery activities
• From Humanism
  • Meeting individual needs, activities that encourage belonging, autonomy, and competence, metacognitive activities,  and alignment of learning to personal experiences.

1. Apply your research skills to this content by synthesizing supporting evidence from at least three scholarly sources from the Ashford University Library that defend these strategies as the best options for your training. View this great tutorial provided by the Ashford University Library which will show you how to find scholarly articles and how to assess the scholarly quality of the resource.

Additional Requirements:

1. Must be two to three double-spaced pages in length (excluding title page and references) and formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.
2. The title page must include the following:
   • Title of paper
   • Student’s name
   • Course name and number
   • Instructor’s name
   • Date submitted
3. Must begin with an introductory paragraph that introduces what you will be outlining in your paper.
4. Must end with a conclusion that reaffirms the learning perspectives/principles and strategies you chose.
5. Must use at least three scholarly sources, all of which must come from the Ashford University Library.
6. Must document all sources in APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.
7. Must include a separate reference page that is formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.

Carefully review the Grading Rubric (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. for the criteria that will be used to evaluate your assignment.