Week 1: The Learning Theories

Hello again J

This is also week 1’s tasks but I have decided to split the information into two posts so you don’t get bored with me and close your RAS’s (:P) The task set for this blog post is to reflect on the 3 learning theories which are: behaviourism; cognitivism; and social cognitivism and add in what I think about connectivism – which isn’t one of the three learning theories but plays a major role in using ICT’s in modern classrooms to advance students learning.  I will start by explaining what each of the learning theories are in relation to my teaching area.

Behaviourism is where as you teach a student their behaviours change around what you have taught them. In the case of instrumental teaching, as I teach a trumpet player to sit with his/her back up straight, feet flat on the floor, with the correct embouchure and to hold the trumpet up and not let it drop, and I continue to reiterate that this is the correct way to play the trumpet, the students behaviour will change around this information and he/she will automatically sit with feet flat, back straight and correct embouchure before playing.

Cognitivism in instrumental music is the knowledge of notes, scales, correct fingering, all of the theory behind playing an instrument being repeated until the information is stored in the students long term memory.  If I didn’t repeat the information that I taught a student regarding the theory behind performance, the information would only barely make it to the students short term memory and they will eventually forget.

In Instrumental Music, and orchestras more importantly, social cognitivism is where the students learn from each other and discuss what they have learnt in lessons, furthering their knowledge and engraining it into their memories further.

Connectivism would help instrumentalists as they could advertise if there are upcoming performances on Facebook, Google, twitter, any social media sites so their audiences will grow and they will get more coverage for the events they do.  Students who study music could also get in contact with professional performers and learn from their experiences; create a blog and talk through the pros and cons that they have come across during their learning experiences and even find music that they would like to perform and bring it to bands, making their learning more self-directed.

From my experiences teaching these past few weeks and learning since grade 5, there is no one learning theory that informs successful learning approaches. All of the learning theories are important to music education and how students learn.