Meaning and Definitions of learning
Learning, in psychology, the process by which a relatively lasting change in potential behaviour occurs because of practice or experience. Learning is also a process of acquiring modifications in existing knowledge, skills, habits, or tendencies through experience, practice, or exercise.
Henry P. Smith ―Learning is the acquisition of new behaviour or strengthening or weakening of old behaviour as a result of experience.
Crow and Crow ―Learning is the acquisition of habits, knowledge and attitudes. It involves new ways of doing things, and it operates in an individual‘s attempt to overcome obstacles or to adjust to new situations.
Skinner ―Learning is the process of progressive behaviour adaptation.
M. L. Bigge ―Learning may be considered as a change in insights, behaviour, perception, motivation or a combination of these.
The above definitions emphasize
four attributes of learning…
- As Process: the first is that learning is a permanent change in behaviour.
- It does not include change due to illness, fatigue, maturation and use of intoxicants.
- The learning is not directly observable but manifests in the activities of the individual.
- Learning depends on practice and experience.
Nature of Learning
- Learning is adaptation or adjustment: All persons continuously interact with their environment. We often adjust and adapt to our social environment. Through a process of continuous learning, the individual prepares himself for necessary adjustment or adaptation. That is why learning is also described as a process of progressive adjustment to ever changing conditions, which one encounters.Learning is an improvement: Learning is often considered as a process of improvement with practice or training. We learn many things, which help us to improve our performance.
- Learning is organizing experience: Learning is not a mere addition of knowledge. It is the reorganization of experience.
- Learning brings behavioural changes: Whatever the direction of the changes may be, learning brings progressive changes in the behaviour of an individual. That is why he is able to adjust to changing situations.
- Learning is active: Learning does not take place without a purpose and self-activity. In any teaching learning process, the activity of the learner counts more than the activity of a teacher.
- Learning is the goal directed: When the aim and purpose of learning is clear, an individual learns immediately. It is the purpose or goal, which determines what the learner sees in the learning situations and how he acts. If there is no purpose or goal, learning can hardly be seen.
- Learning is universal and continuous: All living creatures learn. Every moment the individual engages himself to learn more and more. Right from the birth of a child till the death, learning continues.
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