Your initial discussion thread is due on Day 3 (Thursday) and you have until Day 7 (Monday) to respond to your classmates. Your grade will reflect both the quality of your initial post and the depth of your responses. Refer to the Discussion Forum Grading Rubric under the Settings icon above for guidance on how your discussion will be evaluated.

Do We Learn the Same or Differently? That Is the Question [WLOs: 1, 3, 6, 7] [CLOs: 1, 3, 4, 5, 6]

Prior to engaging in this discussion, read the Introduction: Understanding How We Learn in your required text and review the instructor guidance.

The introduction of your required text summarizes the historical relevance of differing theories and ideologies that frame our current understanding of learning psychology, and presents numerous sub-theories and frameworks within each. Included in this introduction, Figure i.1: Timeline of Milestones in Learning Theory offers a visual of the timing of events associated with differing theories to help you more effectively understand the evolution of theoretical frameworks. In addition, often the phrase “we all learn differently” is utilized too loosely by those with a shallow understanding about learning. When discussing learning psychology at a more academic level, one should acknowledge a clear difference between the process of “how we learn” (basically the same) and “how we learn effectively” (diverse). Based on your required readings, address the following:

In your discussion,

• Select two theories discussed in your required reading, and describe the areas of each theory that you were not previously aware of and why these areas may suggest a need to assimilate, or even accommodate, your own current knowledge.
  • If unclear on the difference between assimilation and accommodation, see the following resource: The Assimilation vs Accommodation of Knowledge (Links to an external site.).
  • For example, did you know there are multiple sub-theories within behaviorism or cognitivism? Do you have previous knowledge about the stimulus-organism-response (S-O-R) model suggested by constructivism?
• Discuss why you think a developed mental understanding about learning is important as a student of psychology. Include all of the following in this explanation:
  • Why is it important to clearly understand the process for acquiring knowledge and then the variables that support effectively processing this knowledge?
  • What myth does stating “we all learn differently” promote to others?
  • Why does a more critical understanding potentially support a learner?
  • How could this understanding affect our success in a career?
  • How might culture (socio-economic, social circle, etc.) affect one’s ability to accommodate or assimilate an expanded knowledge about learning?
• Lastly, compare and contrast your previous knowledge about this content to the more complex analysis of learning that you read about this week in the introduction chapter of your text (see the Writing Center’s Compare & Contrast Assignments (Links to an external site.) for assistance).

Your initial post should be between 350 and 400 words. You must support your discussion by citing, at minimum, the required textbook. Cite all information from your sources according to APA guidelines as outlined in the APA: Citing Within Your Papers (Links to an external site.) resource. List each of your sources at the end of your posting according to APA Style as shown in the sample page of the APA: Formatting Your References List (Links to an external site.) resource.

Reminder: Each week you will be given instruction in the Guided Peer Response about the expectations for responding to your peers and to the instructor. (Please see below.) These expectations may differ from week to week or from your previous courses, so please reach out to your instructor if you have any questions or concerns.

Guided Peer Responses: Review several of your classmates’ posts. Respond substantively to at least two of your peers’ original posts by Day 7 (Monday) at 5pm (MT). Each peer posting should be a minimum of 200 words. Monitor this forum throughout the week to create interactive dialogue to help develop your knowledge. Discuss the following:

• Did your peer clearly explain why it is important to understand the difference between how we learn and how we learn effectively?
• Does your peer’s posting share similar or different past knowledge than you have?
• How can what they discuss help you to better understand the content in this course?
• Share resources that you may have personally discovered that could help your peer to understand the content at a more developed level.

 

Instructor Responses: Review any instructor feedback on your postings. Often feedback is shared to help you to elevate your level of critical thought or make corrections. Reply based on this feedback to advance your understanding of the content addressed.

 

In addition, observe the following guidelines for all responses:

• Remember that discussion forums should be conversations; dialogue is encouraged throughout the course.
• Provide a courteous and interactive learning environment.
• Continue to monitor this discussion through 5:00 p.m. (Mountain Time) on Day 7 of the week, and reply to anyone (instructor or classmate) who has chosen to respond to your original post.
• Your grade will reflect the quality of your initial post, the depth of your peer replies, and your active support of forum dialogue.
• Your responses should demonstrate that you have read the existing replies on in the forum. (In your response, mention information and viewpoints already expressed by existing responses to the same post.)

Before you submit your discussion, you are encouraged to review the Writing Center’s Grammarly (Links to an external site.) page, which includes a link to The Grammarly Guide (Links to an external site.), set up a Grammarly account (if you have not already done so), and use Grammarly to review a rough draft of your assignment. Then, carefully review all issues identified by Grammarly and revise your work as needed.