The psychology of learning and its vital importance

The psychology of learning plays a very valuable role in society. In an increasingly changing and complex world, we need to enable people to reach their full potential. Knowing how to process information, understand concepts, retain them and transform them, facilitates the advancement and development of the human being and the institutions themselves.

While it is true that there are many theories and models about this discipline, the purpose is always the same: to know how we learn. It also seeks to design more effective environments for this purpose and be that tool that simplifies everything from innovation to inclusion. You are faced with a psychological branch of great value that you will love to get to know better.

The psychology of learning: definition and history

Few processes are as fascinating and essential as the act of acquiring information to adapt to your environment. The psychology of learning seeks to understand how people acquire new knowledge and skills throughout their lives. Learning is a journey that you begin at birth and that you will practice until an advanced age.

This construct generates behavioral modifications in you, new mental approaches and even neurological development itself. Integrating innovative knowledge allows you to grow, solve problems, transform your reality and better face challenges. To understand all these dynamics, psychological science has been studying this area for several centuries. Let’s do a brief review.

Main historical moments in this matter

The quest to understand human learning had its beginnings in ancient Greece, with philosophers such as Plato and Aristotle. Later, and throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, names such as John Locke and David Hume took up this interest. However, the true development of this area came at the end of the 19th century with Ivan Pavlov. Let’s get to know this historical perspective:

Classical conditioning: It was the Russian physiologist Pavlov who, with his theory of classical conditioning, marked a milestone in the scientific understanding of learning. He demonstrated that neutral stimuli could be associated with unconditioned stimuli to elicit conditioned responses.Operant conditioning: B. F Skinner is a great exponent of the theories of learning and education. Your book Science and human behavior (1953) was a milestone. He developed the theory of operant conditioning, which revealed how the consequences of actions influenced the probability that certain behaviors would be repeated or not in the future.Cognitive theories of learning: Starting in the 1950s, cognitive theories began to gain prominence. Its representatives, Jean Piaget and Lev Vygotsky, explained how memory, attention and understanding mediate learning and cognitive development.Social learning: the book Social learning theory (1971) by Albert Bandura, introduced the relevance of observation and modeling to the present field. Likewise, this Canadian psychologist also developed the theory of socio-cognitive learning, which highlighted the relevance of the interaction between the social factors of the environment with the psychological ones. Constructivism: since the 1980s, education begins to make use of socio-constructivist models. by Lev Vygotsky. Thanks to him, attention was placed on the active construction of knowledge through social interaction and problem solving. Today, as described in a Frontiers in Psychology publication, his theories are applied.Learning with ICT: Information and communication technology (ICT) dominates teaching processes today. Digital platforms and online tools can improve or alter this purpose.

Learning is a process of acquiring experiences in which not all people acquire them in the same way. There are those who have special educational needs and, to this end, psychology is also responsible for addressing these particularities to fully develop the particular potential of each individual.

Importance of this discipline in our society

The relevance of the psychology of learning goes beyond a teaching classroom. He thinks that people must learn new concepts throughout our lives. The workplace, for example, also needs to optimize this process to enable its employees. This means that the present discipline has numerous purposes. We describe them below.

1. Understand learning processes

Psychology’s persistent quest to better understand learning processes never stops. In fact, since science has been revealing the mysteries of the functioning of the mind and brain, advances in this field have been significant. An example of this are the discoveries on the subject of brain plasticity.

In a work carried out by researchers from the Pablo de Olavide University, they expose the impact of this area and the challenges that arise thanks to it. Now, we not only know that the brain can, under certain circumstances, recover after damage. Furthermore, brain plasticity constitutes an essential piece in the development of learning itself.

2. Develop more innovative learning techniques

Thanks to learning theories, educators develop more efficient teaching methods. The objective is to personalize the methodologies based on the needs of the students. Something like this helps to obtain good results by presenting the information in a more attractive way. We list some of those techniques:

GamificationActive learningAssociative learningCooperative learningSelf-directed learningMnemonic techniquesMultisensory learning

3. Contribute to special education and inclusion

The scientific magazine Frontiers in Education In an article, he refers to the relevance of having teachers trained in special education. The psychology in question helps educators better understand the individual realities of each student. This favors the adaptation of curricula to address all the diversity of learning styles, needs and abilities.

4. Identify learning barriers

Learning barriers can be internal (neurological/psychological) or contextual (social). Not all people process information in the same way. There are those who have a learning problem or even high intellectual abilities. Likewise, there are social and structural factors that make this process difficult.

We have a clear example in new technologies. It is true that the digital world is an instrument with great potential for learning. But, sometimes, it can limit it if its use is incorrect. Psychology seeks to understand these particularities.

5. Optimize motivation

You will find this information interesting. As they point out in the magazine BMC Medical Education, until not long ago the way in which student motivation influences learning processes was neglected. However, this relationship is decisive to increase performance and achieve success.

Currently, A growing area in psychological research is the understanding of motivational processes. This will allow us to personalize teaching methodologies to offer each person the techniques that best suit their needs.

6. Improve organizational and work contexts

This discipline is a very effective tool for the world of work to train its employees. Think that the labor market is defined by high competitiveness. Companies must empower their workers with increasingly sophisticated soft and hard skills. Having the most innovative techniques to achieve this is a great advantage.

7. Research to facilitate new advances

Psychology specialized in learning is a field in constant evolution. Research in this area contributes to the development of new theories, approaches and techniques that optimize teaching methodologies.

It’s more, Thanks to that discipline you can better understand how you learn and how to reach your full potential.

Keep in mind that the professional specialized in this area investigates the characteristics of the human being, both neurological, psychological and social.

Sometimes, even life experiences condition the way in which information is integrated. All this knowledge is key to designing more efficient learning programs. Hence its value and significance.

Learning, a nuclear dimension

Psychology’s mission is to promote more effective and meaningful learning in our society. Its importance is also imbued with a very interesting type of social justice. By enabling every individual to reach their full potential beyond their economic level, they are guaranteed opportunities to progress.

Advances in this area also facilitate the inclusion of people with educational needs and this enriches us all. This discipline will be the best ally in a future marked by new challenges, such as artificial intelligence. Its evolution will allow us to achieve educational excellence and create a more ethical and advanced world.

You might be interested…