Learning and its types .

Learning is that process which is the result of directed

physical and mental activity leading to new or changed

responses. The usual antecedent condition for learning

is a single trial or it may come after many hours

spent in fruitless endeavor. The length of the trial

and error period depends on the difficulty of the task,

the maturity of the learner and the skill, understanding

and experience needed for the task. The trial period

ends when the correct or right response occurs. The

right response is that which closes the deal, ends

the search or solves the problems. Reinforcement

occurs when a response is satisfying. Once the correct

sequence act has been established as a result of

reinforcement, smoothness and skills are gained

though repetition or exercise. Repetition provides a

chance to reinforce what is learned and helps in

better operation It also strengthens the selected

responses until they become well established habits.

Types

Multiple response learning is related to human beings

and its nature is quite complex. There are three main

types of multiple response human learning i.e (i)

Sensory motor learning, (ii) Verbal learning and (iii)

Concept learning. We will briefly take up the salient

features of each.

In the field of human learning, sensory motor learning

provides assistance to mirror drawing and pursuit

learning. In this special learning, muscular actions

are significant. These muscular actions are controlled

by sense organs. Acquired human skills in different

fields are included under this type of learning, for

example, bicycling, playing on a piano, working on

machines, flying aircrafts etc.

A major part of human behaviour comes under verbal

learning. Comparatively the amount of verbal learning

is much more than sensory motor learning. For the

experimental study of verbal learning, meaningful

words have been used. There are four main techniques

of presentation of verbal material i.e. free-recall, serial

learning and recall, paired associate and verbal

discrimination procedure.

Concept learning is the most complex aspect of human

learning. It is related with such verbal reactions in

which things belonging to one category are known by

one generalised name. Concept learning is very

important for thinking. After concept formation any

stimulant or stimulant group is known by one name.

For example after concept learning we call a particular

species of fruit ‘mango’ and the other ‘ banana’. Though

each mango or each banana may differ from each

other, yet they are known by a generalised name

because of many common characteristics. Concept is a

process of differentiation between common

characteristics and relations among objects, persons

and events. From the beginning of the thinking process

in a child concept learning begins taking place in his/

her mind. It develops in the mind of the child with his/

her contacts with new things. Concept learning is

influenced by the process of perception, analysis,

comparison, abstract thinking and generalization.