Willingham's Learning Theory Flashcards
1
Q
Give the main features of Willingham’s Learning Theory.
A
- Factual knowledge precedes skill.
- Practice and effort = master skills and knowledge.
- Info sshould be rehearsed to enter the LTM
- Enough practice and effort allows the skill to be fixed in the LTM and will be less likely to be forgotten.
2
Q
According to Willingham’s Learning Theory, how can we aid cognitive development?
A
Teachers should:
- Assign challenging tasks requiring effort
- Understand a child’s stage of development when planning tasks and remember that abilities are variable
- Consider other factors other than stage of development
3
Q
According to Willingham’s Learning Theory, how can we aid physical development?
A
- Practice and conscious efforts improve motor skills and physical development. Also makes movements automatic
- Focus on how a movement needs to be carried out.
4
Q
According to Willingham’s Learning Theory, how can we aid social development?
A
Teachers should:
- Demonstrate appropriate social behaviour to encourage social learning
- Try to stop impulsive behaviour to develop suitable responses.
- Encourage practice and self-regulation
- Build on ability to take on the view of another to encourage the development of social relationships
5
Q
Give two strengths of Willingham’s Learning Theory.
A
- Has practical applications
- Other studies support it
- Repacholi and Gopnik (1997) proved that children were not as egocentric as Piaget theorised, and were able to decenter much earlier on.
6
Q
Give two weaknesses of Willingham’s Learning Theory.
A
- Didn’t emphasise importance of individual differences
- Suggested self-regulation and impulsivity were inherited to some extent but genes cannot be changed easily using his strategies - Ideas cannot be summarised as one singular theory.
- Draws on variety of ideas from various areas of cognitive science, neuroscience and memory theory, which makes it difficult to test.
