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Learning Theory and Concepts

Principles of Learning

Behaviorist and Cognitive Processing Theories

Principles of learning, sometimes called laws of learning, are a set of findings identified by researchers in educational psychology that seem to apply generally across the learning process, discovered, tested and applied in real-world settings to give insight into what makes people learn most effectively. Edward Thorndike developed the first three laws of learning: readiness, exercise and effect.

Facts
Core Claim
Principles of learning holds that a set of general findings, most foundationally Edward Thorndike's laws of readiness, exercise and effect, apply broadly across the learning process and can guide real-world instructional design. 1
Origin Year
1913 1
FAQs

Are there principles of learning beyond Thorndike's three laws?

Later lists add primacy, recency and intensity to Thorndike's readiness, exercise and effect.

Yes. Edward Thorndike developed the first three laws of learning, which are readiness, exercise and effect. Later lists of the principles add others, including primacy, recency and intensity. Primacy holds that subject matter should be presented in a logical order, step by step. Recency holds that things most recently learned are best remembered. Intensity holds that a vivid, dramatic or exciting learning experience teaches more than a routine or boring one.
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Developed By

Source Principles of Learning (Wikipedia)
Sources
1. Principles of Learning (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia Foundation
  • Further reading list
    Thorndike, E (1999) [1913]. Education Psychology. New York: Routledge. ISBN 0-415-21011-9.
  • Lead section
    Edward Thorndike developed the first three "Laws of learning": readiness, exercise, and effect.
  • Lead paragraph
    Researchers in the field of educational psychology have identified several principles of learning (sometimes referred to as laws of learning) which seem generally applicable to the learning process.
  • In Group: Conditioning and Behavior Analysis Theories, Lead paragraph, in-group
    Edward Thorndike developed the first three "Laws of learning": readiness, exercise, and effect.
  • Developed By: Edward Thorndike, Lead
    Edward Thorndike developed the first three "Laws of learning": readiness, exercise, and effect.
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