some notes on gestalt learning theory

Some notes on „Gestalt”

(This is in no way intended to constitute a proper introduction, but to accompany the selective discussion in class.)

10 February 2010

See also http://www.learningandteaching.info/learning/gestalt.htm and links from there.

Stimulus—Response

Stimulus—Organism—Response

Hard-line behaviouristsworked on the basis of relationship between

these two...

Hard-line behaviouristsworked on the basis of relationship between

these two...

From Skinner onwards there has been a recognition that

the Organism itself plays a critical role

From Skinner onwards there has been a recognition that

the Organism itself plays a critical role

And it is the study of the learning Organism

which takes centre stagein cognitive theories

And it is the study of the learning Organism

which takes centre stagein cognitive theories

Although actually pre-dating much behavioural theory, the first cognitive theory was „Gestalt”, associated with Wertheimer and his students Köhler and Koffka.

Some of the principles of Gestalt can be teased out through visual illusions...

Neckercube

This is just a two-dimensionalpattern—but you can’t see

it as such. It insists on being 3-d

This is just a two-dimensionalpattern—but you can’t see

it as such. It insists on being 3-d

Neckercube

More than that—is this face the front or the back?

More than that—is this face the front or the back?

Neckercube

Ditto this?Ditto this?

I didn’t use this one; it’s a great illusion, but what is the

teaching point?(Perhaps it is that the quality

of the illustration is not the point!

I didn’t use this one; it’s a great illusion, but what is the

teaching point?(Perhaps it is that the quality

of the illustration is not the point!

Faces orVase?

This is the classic “figure-ground” issue studied by the Gestalt

pioneers.

This is the classic “figure-ground” issue studied by the Gestalt

pioneers.

The appearance and disappearance of the black

dots may represent thebrain’s search for pattern...

The appearance and disappearance of the black

dots may represent thebrain’s search for pattern...

Which circle in the middle is bigger?

They’re both the same. (Measure them) But we are

influenced by context

They’re both the same. (Measure them) But we are

influenced by context

What is it?

Dog sniffingamong leaves

Old or young

woman?

Insistence onmostly likely

version

Which side is the light coming from?

See the note on the blog about this one (with video)See the note on the blog

about this one (with video)

Even when the parts

make sense, but the whole?

M C Escher, Waterfall, 1961.

Dolphins

Put up your hand up when you can see at least seven dolphins.

Children apparently getthis a lot faster than adults.

I wonder why?

Children apparently getthis a lot faster than adults.

I wonder why?

Brain insists on finding patterns

(„Gestalten”) wherever possible.

So it is not neutral and passive.

Cognitive Theories 1

If it ain't biological, behaviourist or humanist, it's cognitive.

It all starts with Gestalt theories [Wertheimer, Köhler and Koffka]: originally theories of perception, Gestalt moved into problem-solving learning.

Influenced by developmental psychology of Piaget (as amended), focusing on the maturational factors affecting understanding.

Broadly, cognitive theory is interested in how people understand material, and thus in;

aptitude and capacity to learn (thus fringing onto psychometrics and testing),

and learning styles (initially an honorable field of study, now exposed as not even wrong).

What arethey?

What arethey?

Ship arriving too late tosave a drowning witchShip arriving too late tosave a drowning witch

What arethey?

Worm wriggling acrossa razor blade

Worm wriggling acrossa razor blade

What arethey?

Koala climbing a treeKoala climbing a tree

OK, you got the others, But this a woman in a dressing-gown bendingdown to stroke her cat.

OK, you got the others, But this a woman in a dressing-gown bendingdown to stroke her cat.

Mild tension until everything “falls into place” (usually indicated by laughter)

Active mental work without behavioural action

Learning as problem-solving Not just confined to human beings

Learning curvesK

now

ledg

e/

skill

Time

Notional behavioural curve

The learning curve produced operant conditioning maylook something like this

The learning curve produced operant conditioning maylook something like this

Learning curve (2)K

now

ledg

e/

skill

Time

Notional behavioural curve

Notional Gestalt curve

“Ah-hah” or“knack”

This one includes a “step” (exaggerated here)

characteristic of a break-through or flash of insight

This one includes a “step” (exaggerated here)

characteristic of a break-through or flash of insight

Köhler’s chimps 1

Such insight may reasonablybe inferred to be

demonstrated by one ofKohler’s apes deliberatelypiling up boxes to get at

out-of-reach bananas

Such insight may reasonablybe inferred to be

demonstrated by one ofKohler’s apes deliberatelypiling up boxes to get at

out-of-reach bananas

Köhler’s chimps 2(1925)

Or this one, using shortersticks to get a longer one

to reach the fruit.

Or this one, using shortersticks to get a longer one

to reach the fruit.

Betty the crow

Or this New Caledonian Crow bending a wire intoa hook to fish food out of

a tumbler.

Search for Betty Crow videofor video

Or this New Caledonian Crow bending a wire intoa hook to fish food out of

a tumbler.

Search for Betty Crow videofor video

Can’t leave mind out of it. Mind makes meaning

Search for patterns („Gestalt”) “Trial and error” can take place in

a purely mental form So need to study mental

processes Development “Intelligence”

“Range of Convenience”Incremental skill acquisition

“Penny dropping”

Academic study

….

Behavioural ?

Gestalt ?

Cognitive ? ? …. What kind of theory is best

for illuminating whatkind of learning?

What kind of theory is bestfor illuminating what

kind of learning?

References and Links at http://www.bedspce.org.uk/mod2/2010/02/10-february-gestalt-etc.html

(c) James Atherton 2010