Learning Theory Resources
The Theories
Greg Kearsley's website "Theory into Practice" is wonderful for both beginners and general investigators of learning theory for adults. It offers multiple, simple explanations of many of the theories under the heading "The Theories." Each entry consists of the following subsections: Overview, Scope/Application, Example, Principles, References, and Relevant Web Sites.
http://tip.psychology.org/theories.html
A Survey of an Adult Learner
Constructivism acknowledges outside influences and stimuli while stressing individual formation and interpretation. Perhaps Piaget said it best when he said that humans are in "a process of continuous self-construction...we create knowledge in our heads and that created knowledge may be interpreted differently by each of us." From William Jackson's 1996 article, "Survey of an Adult Learner."
http://internet.cybermesa.com/%7Ebjackson/Papers/Adultlearner.htm
About Learning
About Learning explains 12 different theories about how people learn, from Behaviorism to Vygotsky
http://www.funderstanding.com/about_learning.cfm
About Learning
This site offers twelve links to highly relevant sites for anyone interested in adult learning theory. The site itself is interesting in that it was developed for police officers. Its selections contain clearly written, practical information.
http://www.copbiz.com/Resources/Resources%20Learning.htm
Adult vs Child Learning
Jackson's article on "Adult vs. Child Learning" compares pedagogy and andragogy. It would interest educators working with both groups or changing from one group to the other.
http://internet.cybermesa.com/~bjackson/Papers/Androgogy.htm
Carnegie Academy for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning
Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Education, Higher Education Issues - in particular, the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning.
http://www.carnegiefoundation.org/CASTL/highered/resources.htm
Greenfield Coalition
This site offers both links to other sites and a bibliography. The authors of the materials are recognized experts in the field, i. e., Knowles
http://www.greenfield-coalition.org/resources/adult_learning.html
How People Learn: Brain, Mind, Experience, and School
The National Academy of Science's research provides a deep understanding of complex reasoning and performance on problem-solving tasks and how skill and understanding in key subjects are acquired.
http://www.nap.edu/html/howpeople1/
Index of Papers and Transfer Tools
This site consists of an extensive series of papers by William H. Jackson. Not only are the various theories included, but also information regarding the different stages of development in children and adults, practical suggestions for preparing lectures, and even study tips.
http://internet.cybermesa.com/%7Ebjackson/Papers/BillPage.htm
Learning to Learn: Thinking and Learning Skills
The Learning Disabilities Resource Community has developed a free, ten-week course "designed to raise learners' awareness of the cognitive and metacognitive aspects of thinking and learning." While the course is designed for students to reflect on their own thinking, it offers several modules that could be helpful to you as an instructor--including a module on learning styles. You can visit the site as a guest or establish a free account.
http://www.ldrc.ca/projects/projects.php?id=26
Psychology of Intelligence Analysis
Richards J. Heuer's Psychology of Intelligence Analysis, though written for the CIA, offers an excellent book-length, online text on intelligence. "Part II -- Tools" and "Part III -- Cognitive Biases" are of particular interest to CT scholars.
http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/psych-intel/index.html
Some Characteristics of Learners
This website, Some Characteristics of Learners, with Teaching Implications, provides helpful comparison tables examining: adult learners vs. youth learners; instructor-centered vs. student-centered teaching; styles of thinking; and styles of learning
http://online.rit.edu/faculty/teaching_strategies/adult_learners.cfm
The Theory and Practice of Transformative Learning: A Critical Review
Transformative learning, according to Mezirow, is a theory that is "partly a developmental process, but more...the process of using a priori interpretation to construe a new or revised interpretation of the meaning of one's experience in order to guide future action." See "The Theory and Practice of Transformative Learning: A Critical Review."
http://www.cete.org/acve/mp_taylor_01.asp
Understanding Adult Learning
This site is a very good, though at times quirky, source of basic concepts. This "Essential Guide" includes topics such as Brain and Intelligence, Adult Learning Theory, Adult Learning Theorists, Resistance to Learning, Lesson Plans (sidebar), and Study Tips. Each section includes links for each of the topics discussed.
http://adulted.about.com/cs/optimallearning/
