EDU 07
PERSPECTIVES OF LEARNING AND TEACHING
CHARACTERISTICS OF LEARNING
Learning is the acquisition of new behaviour or the strengthening or weakening
of old behaviour as a result of experience. It is a process of progressive
adjustment and adaptation to ever changing physical as well as social
environment.
Yoakman and Simpson have described the following nine important
characteristics of learning:
Learning is growth
The word growth is generally associated with the body which is growing, but
through the mental growth of the learner. Through his daily activities the child
grows both mentally and physically. Therefore, we say Learning is growth
through experience
Learning is adjustment
Learning helps the individual to adjust himself adequately to the new situation.
Children meet with new situations which demand solution.
Learning is organizing experience
Learning is not mere addition to knowledge. It is not mere
acquisition of facts and skills through drill and repetition. It is
reorganisation of experience.
Learning is purposeful
All the learning is based on purpose. Purpose plays a big role in
learning. Purpose is always connected with the use of some instinctive
power, with the use of the energy with which we are endowed with birth.
We do not learn anything and everything that comes in our way, in a
haphazard manner.
Learning is intelligent
Meaningless efforts do not produce permanent result. Any work done
mechanically is without any soul. When a child learns something unintelligent,
he is likely to forget it very soon.
Leaning is active
Learning does not take place without a purpose and self-activity. In the
teaching –learning process, the activity of the learner counts more than the
activity of the teacher.
·
Learning is both individual and social
Learning is more than an individual activity it is social activity also.
Individual mind is affected by the group mind consciously as well as
unconsciously as individual is influenced by his friends, relatives, classmates,
parents, etc.
Learning is the product of the environment
Environment plays an important role in the growth and development of the
individual.
True learning affects the conduct of the learner
There is a change in the mental structure of the learner after every
experience.
Some other characteristics are.
Learning as improvement
Improvement involves enhancement of values. Learning is aimed to bring out
desirable changes that lead to improvement.
Learning has a wide scope
Learning is not confined only to acquisition of knowledge, attitudes, skills, etc.
it is a very comprehensive process. Its scope touches aspects like the
information of habits, development of interests, acquisition of beliefs, perfection
of values and ideals, etc.
Learning is a process which can be inferred from the behavioural changes
of the individual
Learning depends on experience and practice.
REFERENCES
Dandapani, S.(2005). A text book of Advanced Education Psychology.
New Delhi:Anmol Publication [Link]
Chauhan, S.S (2009). Advanced Educational Psychology. New Delhi:
Vikas Publishing House [Link].
Aggarwal, J.C (2013). Essentials of Educational
Psychology (2nd ed.).New Delhi:Vikas Publishing House Pvt Ltd.
Sivarajan, K (2005). Psychological foundations of education. Calicut
University.
