Types of Learning

Types of Learning

1) Imitation:

Much is learn in the life by way of imitation. Children learn many more new things by way of imitation. Imitation may be conscious or unconscious. Through unconscious imitation the customary behavior and moral codes of society the learnt and made permanent part of the child’s character. The conduct of the parents the personality of the teacher, literature, school environment, movies, all are very effective models for imitation. Fashion and customs are largely through limitation. The imitation is an important, moral, intellectual and special agent, in formal education and for throughout life. But for learning newer and more complex things imitation play little role. Fashion is imitation of contemporaries while custom and tradition is the imitation ancestors.

2) Trial and Error (Selective Learning):

This type is also known as learning by selection of successful variant. When no ready-made solution of problem is available to the learner, he adopts the method of trial and error. He first tries one solution. If it does not help him, he rejects it. Then he tries for another. In this way he eliminates errors and finally discovers the correct solution. Thus in the trial and error method the learner makes random activities and finally reaches to the goal accidentally. Trial and error method is not very much useful for teacher. There is much wastage of time and energy in learning by this method. It is useful for subjects like math’s, grammar,memorizing poetry etc.

3) Learning by Insight:

This is the Gestalt view point. According to this view, learning is the organization and reorganization of the behavior which arises from the interaction or a maturing organism and its environment. This is brought about through new forms of perception, imagination. Co-ordination and other organic behavior. Sudden Appearance of the solution is a peculiar characteristic of insightful learning. Insight is the perception of a relationship between at least three factors, an agent, a goal and intervening conditions or obstacles. In-sight learning has three principles of insight, the law of whole and sudden appearance of the solution. This type of learning is very important in education field. Because it does not consume much time. It emphasizes upon meaningfulness, trains imagination, reasoning and thinking abilities. In insight can be brought about through maturation experience and good arrangement of environment forces. Learning by insight gives emphasis upon encouraging, aiding and directing behavior.

4) Learning by Conditioning:

This is the learning from the behaviouristic view point. According to this learning is formation of conditioned reflexes or acquisition of involuntary anticipatory adjustment or a habit formation so that behavior may become automatic.

Many things of the school subjects are learnt more adequately through condition learning. Like reading, writing, discipline, good habits etc. Direct method or teaching English is a process of conditioning. We learn many things through this process.