Create a 4–6 page description and justification of your ideal learning situation.
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Introduction
Traditionally, schools have been seen as the place where learning occurs, yet people are continually learning all day, every day. In this assessment, you will explore how you learn best when you are learning something of interest, and you will compare and contrast your preferences with a case study.
Assessment Instructions
Part 1
Imagine you have inherited a ton of money and will never have to work for income for the rest of your life. Think of something you have wished you could experience or learn or figure out if only you had the time or money or energy. What would you learn, and how would you do it? Is your unique way of approaching learning this thing like other people’s, or is it different?
- Apply learning theory terminology and concepts to describe the learning situation.
- Identify what you will learn.
- Using a learning theory of your choice from any presented in the course, explain your understanding of this topic, concept, or skill so far.
- Describe how you will learn your new topic, concept, or skill.
- Predict what you should be able to do or understand after your learning experience, using terms from this theory.
- Justify which learning theory best supports your personal learning situation.
- Explain why this plan works best for you. Is it your personality, experience, knowledge, or something else that makes this the best plan?
- Critique this theory: what could it explain well about you and your learning plan and what could it simply not?
Part 2
Select a case from Learning Theories: Case Studies.
- Analyze the ability of a theory to explain and predict a case.
- Identify what the person in the case was hoping to learn.
- Explore whether your approach to learning your topic, concept, or skill from Part 1, above, would work effectively for the person in the selected case to learn their topic, concept, or skill.
- Explain any challenges that would be involved for the person from the case study learning this way.
- Critique the learning theory you chose in Part 1 for its ability to explain and predict learning for the person.
Note: You are asked to write from your perspective for many of the elements of this paper. When you are presenting your own theoretical orientation and learning plan, it is most appropriate to use the first person.
Additional Requirements
- Written communication: Write coherently to support central ideas, in appropriate APA format, and with correct grammar, usage, and mechanics.
- Tone: Write in the first person when you are presenting your own theoretical orientation and learning plan.
- Length of paper: 4–6 typed, double-spaced pages, not including the title page or reference page.
- References: At least five scholarly articles (from peer-reviewed journals). Books and other sources can be used, if needed, in addition to the journal articles.
- APA format: Follow current APA guidelines for style and formatting, as well as for citing your resources in the body of your paper and in alphabetical order on the reference page. Refer to Evidence and APA. You may also use the APA Paper Template [DOCX] Download APA Paper Template [DOCX].
- Font and font size: Times New Roman, 12 point.
Note: In graduate-level writing, minimize the use of direct quotes. Lengthy quotes do not count toward assessment minimums. Your interpretation of the material is assessed, as well as its application to practice.
Competencies Measured
By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies and assessment criteria:
- Competency 1: Evaluate the strengths, limitations, and applications of the foundational learning theories.
- Justify which learning theory best supports a personal learning situation.
- Analyze the ability of a theory to explain and predict a case.
- Competency 2: Evaluate the strengths, limitations, and applications of learning principles and concepts.
- Apply learning theory terminology and concepts to describe a learning situation.
- Competency 4: Communicate in a manner that is scholarly, professional, and consistent with expectations for members of the psychological professions.
- Apply APA style and formatting to scholarly writing.
Use the resources linked below to help complete this assessment.
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Learning Theory Case Studies
Review the case studies in order to select one to use for Part 2 of this assessment.
APA Style and Format
Because this is a psychology course, you need to format this assessment according to APA guidelines. Refer to the resources found in the Evidence and APA section of the Writing Center. You may also use the APA Paper Template [DOCX] Download APA Paper Template [DOCX]for this assessment.
Appropriate References
The Psychology Library Research Guide can help ensure that the articles you select for this assessment are appropriate, credible, and valid.