B) Connectionism

CONNECTIONISM

“Consider the response you wish to connect with.” - Edward Thorndike

Try this first!

How would you connect your previous learning experiences to your current learning experiences?

SYNOPSIS

The American psychologist Edward Thorndike developed Connectionism, also known as Thorndike's Laws, which is based on the concept of active learning. These Laws state that learning occurs when a person is able to create connections between a certain stimulus and a given response. The three primary laws are the Law of Readiness, the Law of Exercise, and the Law of Effect.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

After this lesson, the students are expected to:

Understand the concept, process, and application of connectionism and its process and application Identify the distinction of the primary laws of learning by Thorndike Apply the Connectionism Theory in real-life situations, learning competencies and learning experiences.

Connectionism was first developed by Edward Thorndike. He was born in Williamsburg, Massachusetts on August 31, 1874. He was widely regarded as the founder of Educational Psychology. Thorndike's model of connectionism theory claims that learning is active. It is achieved when an individual is able to form association between a particular stimulus and response. The S-R framework is a foundation of behavioral psychology, and Thorndike's learning theory is a good example of this framework. Stimuli and responses lead to the formation of associations, which are the building blocks of learning. A Universal Theory of learning for both humans and animals is connectionism. Animals discover relationships between a stimulus and a pleasurable result through trial and error. The pleasure these relationships provide is why they are so ingrained.

According to the rule of exercise, these connections get stronger the more you use them. Connectionism's distinctive feature is its ability to explain learning through observations as opposed to proposed explanations of unobservable internal states. Connectionism is widely used in the fields of education, cognitive testing, and adult learning. Connectionism is based on the notion that different things or concepts become interconnected through experience and that complex concepts can be explained by a set of guiding rules or principles.

The Process/Application of Edward Thorndike's Connectionism

Thorndike believed teaching should be based on research, so he wrote books to help teachers understand relevant psychological research. Learning can be studied and modeled, and classroom practice should be based on systematic, empirical research. This may be Thorndike's most lasting contribution. Thorndike's research is sometimes seen as old or simple, but it's complex and has ideas that can be used today. These are as follows:

Primary Laws

Thorndike provided key points with 3 laws of learning, these laws are universally recognized and apply to all types of education or learning:

1. Law of Effect: It says that responses or actions to a situation that leads to a good outcome will be reinforced and turn into habitual responses to that situation. The response of a subject to a certain event, followed by a reward, can help reinforce the response.

Example: Celine reviewed for her exam, and she received a high grade. This makes her likely to review hard for the next examination.

2. Law of Readiness: It is a chain of actions or responses that can be put together to reach a goal. Breaking the chain will make you mad. A goal could be reached by linking together a group of answers or a series of answers.

Example: Teacher Angel always gives her students an activity that is related to her lesson before she starts the discussion. This makes her students ready for her lessons.

3. Law of Exercise: It states that connections develop in practice and decrease once practice ceases. Frequently, associations are strengthened after they are formed. Similarly, associations that are rare or inconsistent weaken.

Example: Students in Grade 3 Narra are required to write their names on paper repeatedly and in cursive writing.

The Principles Behind the Connectionism

There are four fundamental tenets that underpin this theory:

1. Learning requires practice as well as some kind of reward system (based upon the Law of Effect).

2. If a stimulus and a reaction are both a part of the same "action sequence," then they can be associated with one another (based upon the Law of Readiness).

3. The individual's prior experiences provide the foundation for the acquisition of new information and skills through the knowledge transfer and learning process (based upon the Law of Readiness).

4. The number of these linkages that a person has learned or otherwise acquired is the primary determinant of their level of intelligence. (based upon the Law of Exercise).

Organize your thoughts

Directions: Compare and contrast the three primary laws of learning using the Venn Diagram. Determine their similarities and differences. Write your answer on the graph given.

Let yourself explore

Directions: Read the questions carefully and answer the following.

Pick among the 3 laws of Connectionism developed by Thorndike, and think of how you can apply this as a student? Explain your answer in sentence form. You may include images for creativity.

Do you think the Primary laws (Law of Effects, Law of Readiness, Law of Exercise) are connected to each other? Yes or No? If yes, provide some examples that will prove your answer. If not, explain why.

If you were to add another Law in Primary laws, what can be the title and what does it tackle?

sQUIZ your Mind

Direction: Carefully analyze the situation, choose the correct answer and put them on the blank before each number.

___1. The connectionism theory put out by Thorndike claims that __________. A. Learning is about asking questions B. Responding to questions is what learning is all about C. Learning occurs when a person is able to create connections between a certain stimulus and a response D. Learning is the result of experience

___2. Who is the Father of Modern Educational Psychology and the proponent of the Connectionism theory? A. Sigmund Freud B. Ivan Pavlov C. B. F Skinner D. Edward Thorndike

___3. Learning takes place when something is repeated or practiced while being stimulated to act or learn. A. Law of Effect B. Law of Readiness C. Law of Exercise D. Law of Belongingness

___4. What are the three laws of Connectionism? A. Law of Effect, Law of Readiness, Law of Exercise B. Law of Effect, Law of Polarity, Law of Analogy C. Law of Set of Attitudes, Law of Analogy and Assimilation, Law of Partial Activity D. Law of Partial Activity, Law of Analogy, Law of Exercise

___5. This law suggests that learning takes place when an action tendency is aroused through preparatory adjustment, set, or attitude. A. Law of Effect B. Law of Readiness C. Law of Exercise D. Law of Spread of effect

___6. This law suggests that drill or practice helps in increasing efficiency and durability of learning. A. Law of Effect B. Law of Readiness C. Law of Exercise D. Law of Spread of effect

___7. Julia has an upcoming midterms examination next week. She noticed that every time she studied, she got a good grade. And every time she did not study, she got a bad grade. What is the stimulus and response in this case? A. (S) Studying - (R) Grade B. (S) Grade - (R) Midterms C. (S) Good grade - (R) Bad grade D. (S) Studying - (R) Midterms

___8. Thorndike's conception of connectionism asserts that: A. Learning is about responding to questions B. Learning is about responding to connections C. Learning is about forming questions D. Learning is about responding to stimuli

REFERENCES

___9. If a student notes a connection between how much they practice kicking a ball and how well they play soccer, then what have they formed? A. An S-I bond B. An S-R bond C. An S-I connection D. An S-R connection

___10. Leni did not put in adequate time to memorize her character's script for the school play rehearsal. As a result, her teacher gave the part to another student. Leni learns not to repeat the action if she wants to have a major role in future plays. Which of the following explains this outcome? A. The law of effort B. The law of readiness C. The law of exercise D. The law of effect

Connectionism (Edward Thorndike). (2018, January 19). Instructionaldesign.org. https://www.instructionaldesign.org/theories/connectionism/

Connectionism theory - article. (n.d.). Google.com. Retrieved August 23, 2022, from https://sites.google.com/view/connectionist-minds/article?authuser=1

(N.d.). Massey.Ac.Nz. Retrieved August 23, 2022, from https://www.massey.ac.nz/~wwpapajl/evolution/assign2/KN/connect.html