Learning

From WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia

Learning is the process of acquiring new understanding, knowledge, behaviors, skills, values, attitudes, and preferences. The ability to learn is possessed by humans, animals, and some machines; there is also evidence for some kind of learning in certain plants. Some learning is immediate, induced by a single event (e.g. being burned by a hot stove), but much skill and knowledge accumulate from repeated experiences. The changes induced by learning often last a lifetime, and it is hard to distinguish learned material that seems to be "lost" from that which cannot be retrieved.

Types of Learning[edit | edit source]

Learning can occur as a result of newly acquired knowledge, behaviors, skills, values, attitudes, and preferences. It can be divided into various types, including:

  • Cognitive Learning: This type of learning is active, constructive, and long-lasting. It involves mental processes, such as thinking, knowing, remembering, and problem-solving.
  • Associative Learning: This is the process where a subject creates a relationship or association between two stimuli or events.
  • Non-associative Learning: This type of learning occurs when a subject responds to a certain stimulus after repeated exposure.

Theories of Learning[edit | edit source]

There are several theories that propose different approaches to learning. These include:

  • Behaviorism: This theory suggests that learning is a change in observable behavior caused by external stimuli in the environment.
  • Cognitivism: This theory focuses on the thought process behind the behavior. It suggests that learning is an internal process that involves memory, motivation, and thinking.
  • Constructivism: This theory suggests that learners construct their own understanding of the world and interpret it based on their experiences and interactions.
  • Humanism: This theory emphasizes the personal worth of the individual and the development of human capacities.

Learning and Education[edit | edit source]

In the context of education, learning is the process by which knowledge is created through the transformation of experience. This can be facilitated through teaching, which is the process of carrying out activities that are designed to induce learning.

See Also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]


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Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD