In this morning (Aug, 8) before the class, we discussed about child and adult learning process? I cannot remember how we got with is topic, but we have many arguments which are very interesting. I got some kind of excitment from quickly finding answers to support my position. Human with any ages have same learning process is my holding position.
From what we discussed, I think there were two different things that should be understanded seperately, learning process and capability. Learning process are similar at all ages while child and adult' capabilities can be both same and different. Generally, adult has more capacities than children, because adult has more physical and cognitive maturity. However, some capabilities are the same, child at age 1, for example, can use sound or tone to express his/her desire or emotion as well as adult.
There are some learning theories which can explain human learning.
Behavioral learning theory.
According to B.F.Skinner's Operant conditioning, human behavior is operated by environment through given conditioned consequence, for instance, reward and punishment. To give a picture, If you smile--> someone smile back(reward)-->you smile again. The same process occur in both child and adult.
Cognitive domain: Cognitive learning
These stages in a picture below show what our brain can do to learn. Not every stages can be achieved all time, for example, child might remember meaning of a word judgement but might not understand what it is. Also, adult might able to remember a meaning of a new English word but might not completely understand it. Same learning process here is eyes and ears perceive letters, connect them with old experiences to make understandable words or sentences, then, repeat them in a short-term or long-term memory. Child who is able to use verbal language for communication has a capability, as well as adult, will learn through this process.
There are many things needed to cover human leaning process. I think you guys have to give some arguments for me, so I can know that my writing is strong enough to persuade you or not. If not, I will do my best.
Looking forward for your comments.
As it applies to language, the Harvard professor of psychology and cognitive neuro-science Steven Pinker has a lot to say on this. Has anyone heard of or read any or his work?
ReplyDeleteAs I was listening to the discussion yesterday morning, it was the application to language learning that most interested me, and which prompted my suggestion to Dig that he write up a short blog post for further discussion.
I think that the research suggests that there are some differences between children and adults, who clearly learn languages in very different ways, and that changes in the physical structure of the brain do correlate with those language learning differences: children all learn a language without ever studying, without any special instruction, and with exposure to a lot of errors, inconsistencies and messy examples; adults, on the other hand, usually find it challenging to learn a new language - I know I did, and there are still sounds in Thai that are a real problem for me. But I learnt English pretty well before I ever got to school! Of course, my English continued to improve, but by the age of four, I had it down pretty well. I've been surrounded by Thai for the past 20 years, but it hasn't soaked in the way English did. I've made progress, and when I speak Thai, I'm also thinking in Thai, not translating, but it's no where near my English ability.
ReplyDeleteThank you Peter.
ReplyDeleteHuman learning relates almost everything in the world. To focus in language learning is more easier to understand.
Language is the most clear evidence showing that how children and adults' abilities are different. However, Steven Pinker gives some parts involved language learning (Steven Pinker, chapter 4.1) which are 1. target-language 2. an environment 3. a learning strategy 4. a success criterion. These parts are essential for human, both children and adult, language acquisition.
Steven Pinker also suggests that children use hypothesis language which is subset of target language (chapter 4.1, ¶ 3). This means children learn to use only some of English, not all. They need other instruction or guide, for example, positive or negative evidence (chapter 6.1,6.2) for learning grammar in English, like adults do. Thai, also, I can combine and speak two or three words when I was young, but I cannot make a sentence properly. I needed my parent or teacher to correct them or give a correct example, just like what I need for learning now.
I think our brain's ability responsible for children' naturally language learning. Children have more synchronizing nerve (synapse) 50% than adult and , importantly, children have no fear to be wrong, they do not have other language's grammar blocking them to use natural learning process for acquiring language.
May be I can use an idiom "young plant is easy to shaped, old plant is hard to shaped" , but both are shaped in the same way.
References
Pinker, S. Language Acquisition. Retrieved August 10, 2011 from http://users.ecs.soton.ac.uk/harnad/Papers/Py104/pinker.langacq.html
Ooh You guys have a deep discussion here..
ReplyDeleteI agree with your article that humans learning process can be explained by the two theories above. The brain development may be the difference. Children may learn language in a different way because some parts of their brain still make they have perfect learning skill(like how to imitate sounds) so, children can speak English like native speaker if they live in English spoken country before certain age (about 9 years old). After that, they cannot spaek perfectly though they live among native speakers all their life.
Naya,
ReplyDeleteDo you think human have different learning process or not?
Well, I think I did a mistake like when we cannot have an agreement for a discussion in class, because I did not give a clear question or a definition to the word learning process.
If learning is a process of acquiring modifications in existing knowledge, skills, habits, or tendencies through experience, practice, or exercise (Encyclopedia Britannica).
For doing that we have to 1. taking in information 2. organized by memory and motor mechanism in nervous system, and 3. changing in behavioral and emotional activity.
What do you think?
References
Learning. Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved August 13,2011 from http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/333978/learning