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Educational Implications of Ausubel’s Meaningful Learning Theory

Introduction

In 1963, American psychologist David Ausubel developed the Meaningful Learning Theory. Ausubel’s idea places a strong emphasis on meaningful learning. According to Ausubel, one’s prior knowledge is the most important component of learning. When someone understands, connects, and absorbs new information with prior knowledge and uses it to solve problems, they are said to have engaged in meaningful learning.

Educational Implications of Ausubel’s Meaningful Learning Theory

With his theories, Ausubel has made significant contributions to the field of education. He believed that in order for pupils to learn effectively, they must relate their new information to what they already know. The following are the effects of Ausubel’s Meaningful Learning Theory on education:

Teachers should consider the prior knowledge that pupils have acquired and make an effort to connect it to the new information.
While establishing new knowledge, teachers should employ phases, resources, topics, and concepts that relate to past knowledge.

Students should be able to connect the material being taught to what they already know.
Teachers should employ instructional strategies and tactics that will pique students’ interest in what they are studying.
The learners should be able to grasp the learning content if it is arranged and presented in a straightforward manner.

To capture students’ attention and make the lesson engaging, teachers should utilise real-world examples.
Students need to be motivated for learning to be meaningful, and teachers should work to help students become motivated.

According to Ausubel, acquiring new information depends on the knowledge currently held. He supported the notion of purposeful education. His thesis holds that for learning to be meaningful, individuals need to relate what they have learned to what they already know. The key component of this idea is the ability to connect newly discovered information with previously known information.