Meaning and Nature of Learning in Education

Meaning of Learning

Learning circumstances are most natural and prevalent in life, and everyone who enters the world is born with certain inborn abilities that allow him to face and regulate his surroundings. As a result, learning plays a critical part in shaping an organism’s behaviour. When an organism comes into contact with his environment, he must make specific behavioural adjustments. Learning is the act of obtaining new or altering and reinforcing existing knowledge, behaviours, abilities, beliefs, or preferences, and may entail synthesising multiple forms of information brought about by experience.

Definitions of Learning by different Authors

  • “Learning involves the acquisition of habits, knowledge and attitudes” ….Crow and Crow
  • “Learning is modification of behaviour through experience” …Gates
  • “Learning as acquisition and retention” ….Skinner
  • “Learning is change in the individual following upon changes in the environment” …Peel
  • “Learning is habit formation resulting from conditioning” ..Pavlov

Nature of Learning

Trial and error theory view: Thorndike advanced the trial and error theory of learning. He conducted several studies on cats, dogs, and fish and determined that the majority of learning occurs via trial and error.

Behaviouristic View: Behaviourists believe that learning is a change in behaviour that occurs as a result of experiences. As soon as a child is born, he attempts to learn from his surroundings.

Gestalt View: According to this viewpoint, learning is influenced by Gestalt or configuration. Learning is a whole reaction to a complete circumstance.