LEARNING

Meaning and definition of Learning

• The process of acquiring the ability to respond adequately to a situation which may or may not have been previously encountered.

• It is relatively permanent change in behaviour as a result of prior experiences.

• It is an important psychological process determining human behaviour.

• It is a continuous process and it occurs all the time.• Thus, learning could be defined as the sum total of

behavioural changes resulting from experience at training.

Definition

E.R. Hilgard: “Learning is a relatively permanent change in behaviour that occurs as a result of prior experience.”but it could be said that change in behaviour indicates that learning has taken place and that learning is a change in behaviour.

W. McGehee: Learning has taken place if an individual behaves, reacts, responds as a result of experience in a manner different from the way he formerly behaved.”

Sanford: “Learning as a relatively enduring change in behaviour brought about as a consequence of experience.”

Dictionary of Psychology: Learning means the process of acquiring the ability to respond adequately to a situation which may or may not have been previously encountered the favourable modification of response tendencies consequent upon previous experience, particularly the building of a new series of complex coordinated motor response; the fixation of items in memory so that they can be recalled or organized; the process of acquiring insight into a situation.”

Martya Sloman: “Learning is the process y which a person constructs kn, skills and capabilities.”

Nature and Characteristics of Learning

1. Learning is purposeful2. It is the result of experience3. It is multi-faceted4. It is an active process5. It involves a change6. Learning is reflected in behaviour.

Principles of Learning1. Readiness2. Exercise: things most repeated are best remembered.3. Effect: …depends on emotional reaction of the learner.4. primacy: the state of being first often creates a strong, almost unshakable

impression.5. Intensity6. Recency7. Employee motivation8. Recognition of individual differences9. Practice10. Reinforcement11. Feedback12. Goal: it can accelerate learning13. Meaningfulness of material.14. Transferring what is learnt to wrok.

Learning Process

Learning process is a mental and habit formation process.1. Stimuli2. Attention3. Recognition4. Translation5. Reinforcement6. Behaviour: learning changes behaviour.7. Reward8. Habits: a permanent change in behaviour becomes a habit.9. Motives: this depends on employee satisfaction.10. Efforts: habits help achieve good efforts and performance. It is a

continuous process.