Learning Principles

Module 5

Learning is . . .

•      "The set of cognitive processes that transforms the stimulation from the environment into the several phases of information processing necessary for acquiring a new capability."

       "An external observer can recognize that learning has occurred when he notes the occurrence of behavioral change and also the persistence of this change."

  

       The first statement above represents Gagne's connection to a different group of theorists than we have previously discussed.  Gagne was a cognitive theorist.  His focus was clearly on a set of external AND internal events that shape the learning process.

       The second statement connects Gagne to the behavioral theorists, by focusing on behavior.  However, he differs from this other group in that he does not indicate that some behavioral change has to occur for learning to take place.  Rather, he takes the more conservative view that we can only be sure learning has occurred when there is behavioral change.

  

   

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