User:PsycTeacher/sandbox

Welch on Education
Learning requires critical thinking. Learning, as defined by Kimble is "A relatively permanent change in behavior or behavioral potentiality that results from experience and cannot be attributed to temporary body states such as those induced by illness, fatigue, or drugs," is a complex process. Several theories explain parts of the whole of learning. Studying multiple theories to synthesize models of learning is an important task for educators. When we learn, we mentally operate on our prior knowledge and new information. Through this process, described by Piaget, we build understanding by adding new information and modifying existing information in our knowledge base. Adding new information is called assimilation, and modifying existing knowledge is called accommodation. To promote maximum learning, we must place the learner into the curriculum where there is an adequate connection to existing knowledge to promote accommodation, and still leave room for the assimilation of new experiences. Vygotsky referred to this as the Zone of Proximal Development. PsycTeacher (talk) 17:31, 28 June 2015 (UTC)