LEARNING 1.1

LEARNING 1.1

[FUNDAMENTALS OF LEARNING]

Introduction:

• Learning is one of the important psychological processes effecting human behaviour.
• Learning is any relative permanent change in behaviour that occurs as a result of experience.
• The meaning of learning is a change in the behavior of a person due to practice and experience.
• When the behaviour of a person changes (positively/ negatively) continuously, it means he is learning something.
• Learning is an important concept in the study of human behaviour.
• Learning is a continuous process. It occurs all the time.

Concept/ Components/ Characteristics/ Elements of Learning:

• In a layman’s view, “learning is something we did when we went to school.”
• In reality, learning is happening all the time with every new experience, new event or new situation.
• Learning is a change in behavior through education, training, practice and experience.
• If reinforcement does not accompany the practice or experience, the temporary changes in behaviour will eventually disappear.
• It is reinforcement which makes learning or change in behaviour enduring.
• Based on this concept of reinforcement, the principle of conditioning has been developed.

Definitions: 

1. “Learning is any relatively permanent change in behaviour that occurs as a result of experience.”          ~ Stephen Robbins
2. “Learning may be defined as a relatively permanent change in behaviour that occurs as a result of prior experience.”    ~ Hilgard
3. “Learning can be defined as any relatively permanent change in behaviour that occurs as a result of practice or experience.” ~ Morgan

Nature of Learning: 

• Learning involves change. It can be good or bad for the organisation.
• The change should be permanent to constitute learning.
• Change must be based on some experience, practice or training.
• The individual can learn but in the absence of motivation  cannot show any change in behaviour.
• Further the experience, practice or training should be reinforced to make it permanent.

 (to be continued...)