PSYC3360 Psychology : Cognitive Learning Theories

Please download this document to your computer, type your answers into it after each question, and upload to CMS in the Assignments folder before the deadline.  Please show me your understanding of course materials, but you may also include other reputable sources if you have been doing extra reading/learning, as long as you cite anything that is not your own original thought. Use your own words – you are showing me your ability to apply what we are learning about to real contexts, not just stating your knowledge.

5 marks:  fully answered the question and showed exceptional (beyond expectations) critical thinking beyond basic knowledge

4 marks:  fully answered the question and showed some critical thinking about it

3 marks: fully answered the question demonstrating learned knowledge

2 marks: did not fully answer the question or answer was common knowledge or irrelevant to the question

1 mark: answer was attempted but did not indicate knowledge of the content

1. Compare and contrast behavioural and cognitive learning theories.  Use what you have learned as well as concrete examples to demonstrate your understanding of how behaviouristsdescribe the nature of learning versus the way that cognitive learning theorists describe learning. What do the theories agree on, and where do they differ?

2. Describe modelling and the hidden curriculum.  What do we learn that isn’t explicitly taught, and HOW?  Use information from your readings as well as some real-life examples to show your understanding of these key concepts of social-cognitive learning.

3. Make a plan to teach a new skill, based on your new understanding of social cognitive theory. Name the specific skill you would teach.  Discuss how you would include the following 4 pieces:  

• Attention – how would you focus attention and avoid distractions?
• Retention (rehearsal, memory codes, mnemonics) – How would you support cognitive encoding?
• Motor Reproduction – what would the learner need to DO, physically?
• Motivation (including self-efficacy) – how would you increase motivation and self-efficacy (consider previous successes and failures, current physiological state, messages from others, others’ successes and failures)?

Use your in-class learning as well as your readings to support your answer.

4. Describe the self-regulation process that allows for learning to occur when the nervous system is in balance (sympathetic and parasympathetic).  How, SPECIFICALLY, can a teacher support self-regulation in their classroom to maximize learning? What should they do? (Last assignment you reflected on your own effective learning states; here you are expanding into supporting others in learning).

5. What are the key elements of cognitive development at each stage?  Describe, using examples, what a person at each of Piaget’s stages of cognitive development would likely be doing (specific to their learning and cognitive development).