Fariba Haghani, Rasoul Masoomi,
Volume 10, Issue 5 (2-2011)
Abstract
Introduction: The purpose of teaching is learning, and learning is related to learning theories. These theories describe and explain how people learn. According to various experts' opinion about learning, many theories emerged. The paper reviewed three major approaches include behaviorism, cognitive and constructive learning and its educational applications in medical science. Methods: this paper review English articles selected from Medline and Eric databases and Persian articles from Medlib, Magiran databases between 1990 and 2011. Results: The major applications of each of these learning theories in medical education can be mentioned as following. (a) Behaviorism: determining behavioral goals, computer based training, competency-based education, mastery learning, computer based simulation, (b) cognitive learning theories: advanced organization, concept maps, a community oriented medicine, learning from observation, and (c) constructivism: student-centered learning, problem-based learning, cognitive training, and reflective writing. In addition, basic features in each of these theories are described in a table. Conclusion: learning theories are not complete. Each emphasize on specific type of learning, so it is best for teachers to be familiar with all of them. Behaviorism in general is suitable for teaching new skills, cognitivism is appropriate for teaching critical thinking, clinical thinking, self - centered learning and productive life, and finally constructivism is proper for teaching problem solving skills, clinical decision making and communication skills .
Habibollah Rezai, Fariba Haghani,
Volume 11, Issue 9 (3-2012)
Abstract
Introduction: Educational psychology researchers have examined learning from different perspectives and their findings for explaining learning phenomena have led to different theories.Each of these theories can provide principles, rules, and specific requirements for classrooms.This study aimed to provide some examples of applications of learning theories in public health.
Methods: Some databases including Sid, iranmedex, irandoc and magiran were searched using key words such as social cognitive learning, learning theory, behavioral theory, cognitive theory, constructive theory, and Bandura and Ausubel. Some related books were also investigated.
Results: The low of reward thorndike's used in correspond health project. Stimulus discrimination used in insectology for discriminated between insect. Learning – social theory used for instruction of prevention of HIV. Top- down instruction used in teaching of research method in health scinces.
Conclusion:learning theories used very low in public health but these theories susceptible to use. It seems that it is best to plan and implement some programs in order to familiarize faculty members with learning theories. Thereby it can provide a context for application of learning theories in teaching and learning process.
