HPE 550 Learning Theories

This course addresses the major historical and contemporary theories of learning and their instructional implications. The course provides learners with the opportunity to become informed consumers of educational theory, research, and practice. Moreover, this course is designed to involve participants in open and critical discussions of a wide range of theoretical perspectives on learning and teaching. While researchers and educators have numerous positions about learning and teaching, this course aims to help learners synthesize concepts from the various theories to produce a personal philosophy of learning and instruction with reference to the theoretical and empirical literature. Taken together, this course is designed to help learners become reflective, analytical professionals who understand both the theoretical and practical dimensions of health professions education (HPE).

 

Course Goals: Provide learners with the knowledge needed to implement evidence-based professional practice through a deeper understanding of learning theories; help learners ground their learning and teaching experiences in the research-based literature; and enable learners to conceptualize, develop, and write their own personal philosophy of learning and instruction that is based on relevant theory and research.

Credits

2

Learning Objectives

1. Discuss historical perspectives on the development of learning theories;
2. Explain the differences between a learning theory, a learning style, and a learning strategy;
3. Explain the connections between learning theories and various educational practices;
4. State the assumptions and implications of various behavioral, (meta) cognitive, social cognitive, and constructivist approaches to learning;
5. Describe the role of social, cultural, and other environmental factors on learning;
6. Analyze the characteristics of effective learning environments;
7. Synthesize concepts from the various theories to produce a personal philosophy of learning and instruction.