1. Cornell University Family Life Development Center, Cornell University Cooperative Extension of New York City, New York State Center for School Safety, University of Rochester Medical Center Div. of Adolescent Health Jon Hirschberger Cornell University Family Life Development Center April 2010 Learning Theories: Practical Applications

2. Jon Hirschberger April 2010 What’s in a theory? Behaviorism Ivan Pavlov, John B. Watson, B.F. Skinner Social Learning Theories Albert Bandura, Lev Vygotsky What Theories Exist?

3. Ivan Pavlov (1849-1936) Taught a dog to expect food after a bell was rung Once the dog had become habituated, bell alone was needed to produce salivation Practical Implications Basis for theories that followed Behaviors can be reinforced by creating associations Behaviorism Jon Hirschberger April 2010 Learning Theories: Practical Applications

4. John Watson (1878-1958) Generalized Pavlov results to humans Taught baby to associate a loud noise with the appearance of a rat Eventually, mere presence of rat was enough Practical Implications Introduced conditioning into human domain Emotions and emotional reactions seen as malleable Behaviorism Jon Hirschberger April 2010 Learning Theories: Practical Applications

5. Behaviorism Jon Hirschberger April 2010 B.F. Skinner (1904-1990) Concept of agency People act on environment to get rewarded -Pressing a lever to get candy Practical Implications People can be taught behaviors through simple rewards and punishments Learning Theories: Practical Applications

6. Behaviorism What behaviorism has taught us Behaviors are encouraged or discouraged through… -Positive or negative rewards -Provision or withholding of rewards Limitations Oversimplification of cause/effect Convoluted implications because of simplicity of design Learning Theories: Practical Applications Jon Hirschberger April 2010

7. Behaviorism Reinforcement, summarized… Addressing the limits of behaviorism Learning Theories: Practical Applications Jon Hirschberger April 2010

8. Where we are Conditioning involving one human and behaviors Where we are going Social interactions as tools for learning Behaviorism Learning Theories: Practical Applications Jon Hirschberger April 2010

9. Social Learning Jean Piaget (1896-1980) Developed a stage model for cognitive development Social learning occurs within the appropriate stage of cognitive development Practical Implications Understanding of objects in social world Social stimuli we give children are not as important as the child’s interpretation of them Learning Theories: Practical Applications Jon Hirschberger April 2010

10. Social Learning Albert Bandura (1925-) “In modeling, people pattern their styles of thinking and behaving after the functional ones demonstrated by others” Turned social learning away from behaviorism Social learning is understood in relation to the social context within which it is embedded Practical Implications Providing modeling behavior can change behavior, but there are other factors as well Learning Theories: Practical Applications Jon Hirschberger April 2010

11. Social Learning Learning Theories: Practical Applications Jon Hirschberger April 2010 Bandura, continued Behavior is strengthened by… -Reward, or avoidance of punishment Behavior is weakened by… -Aversive stimuli, and loss of reward “Principle behavior effects come primarily from peer-friendship groups and the family”

12. Social Learning Lev Vygotsky (1896-1934) Formulated the Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) - Two levels of Development (Actual and Potential) - A cognitive arena within which a child can operate with help - Many of the gains in cognitive and social functioning happen in the ZPD Learning Theories: Practical Applications Jon Hirschberger April 2010

13. Social Learning Vygotsky, continued Agency within social relationships plays a large role in development of cognitive skills Children are active learners, who explore their own cognitive limitations and expand knowledge in the ZPD Learning Theories: Practical Applications Jon Hirschberger April 2010

14. Model positive behaviors Use methods to weaken negative behavior, strengthen positive behavior Actively discourage negative behaviors, do not wait for them to occur However, consider developmental stage What to do? Learning Theories: Practical Applications Jon Hirschberger April 2010

15. ACT for Youth Center of Excellence act4youth@cornell.eduact4youth@cornell.edu 607-255-7736 http://www.actforyouth.nethttp://www.actforyouth.net Was this presentation useful? Please give us your feedback: http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/WEB22AEZWMYJH3 The ACT for Youth Center of Excellence connects positive youth development resources and research to practice in New York State and beyond. The Center provides: Technical support, training, and evaluation for youth-serving programs funded by the NYS Department of Health. Youth Development resources: www.actforyouth.net, publications, training and events, and the e-letter ACT for Youth Update. Email act4youth@cornell.edu to subscribe.www.actforyouth.netact4youth@cornell.edu A home base for the ACT Youth Network. Visit the network at www.nysyouth.net www.nysyouth.net