A learning organization is most simply described as an organization in which learning has become a part of the organizational culture. As Lehr and Rice (2002, 1062) state, “organizational learning is most often treated as an extended process through which organizations grow, change, adapt, and improve to remain viable.” Interest in learning organizations can be
Observational learning is concerned with the acquisition of attitudes, values, and styles of thinking and behaving through observation of the examples provided by others. Psychological theories have traditionally emphasized learning from direct experience. Natural endowment provides humans with enabling biological systems but few inborn skills. These must be developed over long periods and altered to
The term learning styles refers to the preferences that an individual has regarding the organization of information. How people actually learn is a question that is best answered by considering a particular person’s preferred learning style. There are many instruments available that can guide individuals in identifying their preferred learning styles. Furthermore, research with those
People work at an incredibly wide number of jobs. A major question is How can we explain how people find their way into working at one occupation rather than another? The social learning theory of career development (SLTCD) is one of a number of theories that help explain how individuals make occupational choices. The SLTCD
The learning organization is a concept describing organizations in which learning and work are integrated in an ongoing and systematic fashion to sustain continuous improvement of the organization at three levels: individuals, work groups or teams, and the organization. A learning organization has the capacity to continuously learn and develop toward a collective vision. Learning
Lifelong learning is the facilitation of learning, growth, and development across the life span. It has also been referred to as lifelong education, and it is typically seen as reflective of a “learning society” or a “knowledge society.” Examples of lifelong learning include retraining adults for new jobs and new industries, informal and nonformal learning
Central to the sociology of education are questions about how schools operate to produce learning. Sociological models of schooling recognize that school systems are complex organizations, with a technical core consisting of classrooms in which teaching and learning – the core technology of schooling – take place. The concept of opportunities for learning provides a
The study of learning has been undertaken since the beginning of the twentieth century and has been heavily influenced by psychology. Although multiple definitions exist, learning has been generally defined as a persistent change in behavior or performance as a result of some stimulus. This definition encompasses both behavioral and cognitive aspects of learning. Behaviorism
Learning by doing is viewed as an important determinant of success for many professions requiring high skill. Over the years, researchers have come to realize that teams and firms can also exhibit learning by doing. Even in cases where annual output does not increase over time, a firm can experience reductions in unit costs or
Organizational learning is a construct employed to depict a set of rational and non-rational processes relevant to the creation, retention, and transmission of knowledge in organizations. The concept has been linked to organizational performance, sustainable competitive advantage, organizational transformation and corporate renewal, organizational and technological innovation, and entrepreneurship among other themes. Change, adaptation, and learning
Simply put, a learning organization is one that is skilled at learning. However, since the concept rose to prominence during the 1990s, the precise nature of the learning and the characteristics of a learning organization have been the source of much debate. Many models have emerged, each describing different combinations of features that typify a
The ability to learn defines much that is unique about human behavior and underlies many aspects of sport and exercise psychology (SEP). Attempts to develop sweeping laws of learning have generally been unsuccessful, and it is unlikely that a universal theory of learning can be developed. Learning is often described as a process during which
Motor learning is the shaping of individual sensorimotor capabilities by the physical and social environment. It is based on changes of neural networks of the brain that enable a relatively permanent improvement of performance, even though this may not always be manifest. Motor learning is induced by experience or practice and can take place with
Learning disorders (LD) refer to patterns of cognitive strengths and weaknesses in individuals that may create a risk for difficulties in learning specific skills. For example, an individual with weak verbal ability may not be efficient at remembering words, resulting in a reading problem, even though the same individual may have strong visual-spatial skills, which
Learning is a fundamental process that shapes human development and behavior. This article provides an overview of learning, spanning from historical perspectives to contemporary theories. It delves into the behaviorist, cognitive, constructivist, and humanistic theories of learning, highlighting their contributions to understanding how individuals acquire knowledge and skills. Furthermore, it explores the various types of
Learning styles are a critical aspect of educational psychology, influencing how individuals acquire and process information. This article explores the concept of learning styles, their historical development, and various models and theories that seek to describe them, including Kolb’s Experiential Learning Theory, Honey and Mumford’s Learning Styles, and the VARK model. It delves into the
Mastery Learning, a pedagogical approach rooted in personalized, self-paced education, has undergone substantial development and refinement since its inception. This article provides an overview of Mastery Learning, delving into its historical origins, the fundamental principles that underpin its implementation, and the diverse benefits it offers in various educational settings. It also explores the challenges and
This article on learning disabilities provides a comprehensive overview of the subject, encompassing the definition, classification, and early diagnosis of learning disabilities, along with insights into the causes and contributing factors. It delves into the impact of learning disabilities on academic performance and social well-being, discussing strategies for intervention, inclusive education, and the vital role
Cooperative learning, a pedagogical approach deeply rooted in theoretical foundations such as Social Interdependence Theory and Vygotsky’s Socio-cultural Theory, has emerged as a pivotal concept in educational psychology. This article delves into the multifaceted dimensions of cooperative learning, exploring its theoretical underpinnings, diverse strategies, and the array of benefits it offers to learners. From improved
Learning is a relatively permanent change in behavior due to experience. As the individual interacts with the environment, certain events promote behavior. In some cases, the outcomes produced by those responses inform the individual about likely consequences for behavior in future situations. Behaviors include a wide array of events, from basic physical processes to complex
Learning disability is a general term that describes specific kinds of learning problems. It is thought to be a neurological or processing disorder that affects the brain’s ability to receive, process, store, and respond to information. It can cause a person to have difficulty learning and using certain skills despite having at least average intelligence.
Social Learning Definition Social learning refers to the learning that occurs in social contexts. More precisely, it refers to adaptive behavior change (learning) stemming from observing other people (or other animals), rather than learning from one’s own direct experience. People acquire and change social behaviors, attitudes, and emotional reactions from observing and imitating the actions
Distance learning occurs when instructors and learners are separated by space and possibly time. Distance learning is part of a system of learning, teaching, communication, design, and management. The learning is interactive and may happen synchronously with instruction or asynchronously. The interaction among instructors, learners, and information is mediated by one or more technologies. Synonyms
Interpersonal learning occurs when individuals, through their interactions with others, acquire self-insight and learn new interpersonal skills. Interpersonal learning is facilitated through processes such as self-observation, self-reflection, feedback from others, and experimenting with new behaviors in an interpersonal context. Related therapeutic processes often occur in individual therapy (e.g., insight work, counselor feedback to the client
A theory is simply an explanation for understanding how things happen and why. A learning theory about career development explains how people discover their current occupations through a variety of different learning experiences. Within the learning theory framework, how occupations—accountant, senator, plumber—developed from life’s learning experiences can be explained. Our society advocates that people plan
Cooperative learning refers to instructional methods in which students work in small groups to learn academic content. Cooperative learning methods vary widely. Group sizes may range from pairs to groups of four or more. Children may be asked to work on projects, to tutor each other, or just to help each other as needed. Each
In sport, transfer of learning is generally defined as the influence of previous experience of performing a skill on the learning of a new skill or on performance of the same skill in a new context. This influence may be positive or negative. Positive transfer occurs when previous experience of performing a skill is beneficial
Learning Theory Definition The meaning of this term seems simple: Learning theory is the theory about how learning is achieved. Unfortunately, things are not that simple. A fundamental problem is that the term learning theory seems to suggest that there is a single, true theory of learning. Although one cannot exclude the possibility that such
Various laws of movement learning and control have been proposed on the basis of research. In this entry, the focus is on three of the most firmly established of these laws: the law of practice, Fitts’s law, and Hick’s law. These laws are of interest to sport and exercise psychologists because they specify relatively simple