Traditionally, schools have been seen as the place where learning occurs, yet people are continually learning all day, every day. In this assessment, you will explore how you learn best when you are learning something of interest, and you will compare and contrast your preferences with a case study.
Part 1
Consider what you would learn if time and money were not obstacles. Think of a dream goal you have for your learning. If the learning you identified is a broad goal, break it down into identifiable steps. Select an aspect of the learning process to focus on in your assessment. Consider one or more learning theories that help you conceptualize your learning needs in the process and help you to set the steps of the learning goal or goals.
In Part 1, address the following:
- Apply learning theory terminology and concepts to describe the learning situation.
- Identify what it is you will be learning.
- Using a learning theory of your choice from any presented in the course, explain your understanding of this topic, concept, or skill so far.
- Describe how you will go about learning your new topic, concept, or skill.
- Predict what you should be able to do or understand after your learning experience, using terms from this theory.
- Justify which learning theory best supports the personal learning situation.
- Explain why this plan works best for you. Is it your personality, experience, knowledge, or something else that makes this the best plan?
- Critique this theory. What could it explain well about you and your learning plan, and what could it simply not explain?
Part 2
Select a case from Learning Theories: Case Studies. For this section of your assessment, you will be considering how the theory or theories you applied to your own learning in Part 1 can also address the learning goals for the person in the case study. Does the same theory apply well to their learning? Explain how it applies. If it doesn't fit well and another theory, or if other theories would better apply to their learning, explain why it doesn't fit and present a theory or theories that would better explain or support their learning.
In Part 2, address the following:
- Analyze the ability of a theory to explain and predict learning or progress in a case.
- Identify what the person in the case was hoping to learn.
- Explore if your approach or theory basis to learning your topic, concept, or skill from Part 1 would work effectively for the person in the selected case to learn their topic, concept, or skill.
- Explain any challenges that would be involved for the person from the case study learning this way.
- Critique the learning theory you chose in Part 1 for its ability to explain and predict learning for the person.
Note: You are asked to write from your perspective for many of the elements of this paper. When you are presenting your own learning situation and plan, please use first person (not “this learner”).
- Written communication: Write coherently to support central ideas, in appropriate APA format, and with correct grammar, usage, and mechanics.
- Tone: Write in the first person when you are presenting your own theoretical orientation and learning plan.
- Length of paper: 4–6 typed, double-spaced pages, not including the title page or reference page.
- References: At least five professional and scholarly sources. Four of the five should be scholarly articles (from peer-reviewed journals). Then can be either empirical or non-empirical, presenting research or theory. Books or other professional sources can be used as the other source. You are welcome to use other professional sources beyond the five if needed to support your ideas.
- APA format: Follow current APA guidelines for style and formatting, as well as for citing your resources in the body of your paper and in alphabetical order on the Reference page.
- Refer to the Evidence and APA section of the Writing Center for guidance.
- Font and font size: Times New Roman, 12 point, double-spaced.
Note: In graduate-level writing, you should minimize the use of direct quotes. Lengthy quotes do not count toward assessment minimums. Direct quotes should be used only occasionally, and your analysis of what you learned from the source and how it applies should be present. It is your interpretation of the material and its application to practice that is assessed.
Review the case studies in order to select one to use for Part 2 of this assessment.
- Learning Theories: Case Studies.
- The Psychology Library Research Guide can help ensure that the articles you select for this assessment are appropriate, credible, and valid.
Readings on Learning
Review the following resources to learn more about various topics related to learning:Contextual Factors in LearningFrom your textbook, Learning Theories: An Educational Perspective, read the following:- Chapter 11, “Contextual Influences.”
- Assessment 3: Contextual Factors in Learning.
- Chapter 9, “Motivation.”
- Chapter 10, “Self-Regulated Learning.”
- Assessment 3: Motivation and Self-Regulated Learning.
- Chapter 1, “Introduction to the Study of Learning - Assessment of Learning,” pp. 14–21.
- Assessment 3: Assessment of Learning.
- In the Capella library, search Databases A-Z.
- In the first drop down menu, select Psychology, and then click Search.
- Scroll down to the letter H and select “Health and Psychosocial Instruments.”
- Type in “learning” or similar term. You can try more specific terms in a specific area of learning, and you can try terms that you are interested in exploring.