Robert Gagne is an educational psychologist who introduced the famous conditions of learning theory. The theory explains three main concepts which are taxonomy of learning outcomes, specific learning conditions, and nine events of learning instructions. Bloom, categorize taxonomy, results from his study into three domains, cognitive, psychomotor and affective. Taxonomy of cognitive domains was made by Bloom himself, while the affective domain was created in cooperation with Masia and psychomotor domain was created with Simpson.
Unlike Bloom, Gagne categorize the taxonomy in five components, namely: verbal information, intellectual skills, cognitive strategies, attitudes, and motor skills. Thus, all of the three domains of Bloom’s taxonomy are covered here. Why Gagne breaks it into five parts? it is because of the assumption that different learning outcomes require different learning conditions as well which means to develop students’ cognitive strategies also require different conditions when the teacher wants to build knowledge, skills, and attitudes to their students. The second point of his theory Gagne is a special learning condition. He stressed that it is important to categorize the learning objectives in accordance with the type of learning, aka the taxonomy as described above. In this way the teacher can design an instruction to achieve the desired learning goals. He also stressed that to achieve these learning goals; the teacher should be pay attention to special conditions (critical condition) that must be prepared to achieve it. The third point is the 9th event of instructions. Gagne believed that the instruction should follow the sequence of events to achieve optimum learning outcome.
Actually right now,I am learning how to implement this 9 events when developing self instructional module in EME5603-01 Systema Instructional design course. The instructional module would be effective to the learner, if I incorporate these events in to help motivating students to learn the material, helping students recall the perquisites, presenting informations, providing exercises and feedback and at the end of module, testing learner performance and giving concluding information. This is a very precious experience. Although my professional field not in educational sector, this helps me understand the process of learning and implement these concept for my personal goals to improve learning motivation as a independent learner.
People learning motivation, one with another may not be the same. Usually, it depends on what people want to achieve from that learning. There are 2 factors that make a person could be motivated to learn:
- First, the motivation to learn comes from internal factors. Motivation was formed because of self-awareness of the importance of learning to develop ourselves.
- Second, motivated to learn from external factors, which may be a stimulus from another person, or the surrounding environment that can psychologically affect that person.
Motivation to learn will not be formed if the person does not have the will, aspirations, or realizing the benefits of learning for themselves. Therefore, specific conditionings are needed, so that we or anyone else who wants to learn can be motivated. For example, I want to get a better career in the future by continuing to study a further level (graduate level) and this is my long-term goals. To realize my long-term goal I plan short-term goals during the learning process to help improve and maintain my motivation. I also set up a strategy of how to achieve these goals within a certain time period. Every achievement that I had made, I do self-reflection and evaluation to see the weaknesses and strengths during the process of achieving and making this as inputs to determine next steps and plan a new strategy.
However, speaking sometimes (and always) is easier than actually doing it. During the process of learning, problems may arise and distract learner motivation. To overcome these problems, I usually look back on my short-term goals, make a self-reflection and find another ways to regain back my motivation. For example I’ve got a boring class, and finally made me lazy to learn the material and loss of motivation to finish this class. Then I’ve made a reflection and realized than this problem can affect my short term goals and future goals as well. So I tried to find other interesting resources related to the class and studied from these resources. This helped me to regain my motivation back. Sometimes, a person needs another person as a pacemaker or a mentor in life. For example: a friend, girlfriend, or spouse. I also do the same by finding someone / communities who can help guide or motivate my learning and achievement.
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Just like Vygotsky, I strongly believe that language plays important role for child mental development. I think that almost all parents would think the same. Nowadays, many parents put their toddlers to kindergarten that use dual languages as the medium. Their goal might be good to equip their children with language skills, but for this case I use a different approach for my child. I do not want to ‘suffering’ my children with having to learn multiple languages at an early age. Children need a strong foundation before learning a foreign language. This foundation is a mother language or in this context Bahasa Indonesia. So I want to make sure my child mastering his mother language first in order to interact seamlessly with his immediate social environment (which is family) where he can see, understand, and acquire knowledge, attitudes, and values. This foundation is also very important when he started interacting with other environments outside the family (friends, teachers, etc.) to enhance the experience and knowledge. Language is a mechanism for thinking, a mental tool. Language makes thinking becomes more abstract, flexible, and independent. Language allows children to imagine, manipulate, create new ideas, and share ideas with others. Thus the language has two main functions; to develop thinking and language skills and being part of the process of thought. Language can be used to create a variety of strategies to master many mental functions such as attention, memory, feelings, and solving problems. Mastery of language- especially mother language, is absolutely required for the child to develop optimally including for learn foreign languages.
In relation with adult life, I refer to one interesting question created by Kevin Hogan;
“What is the difference between the top 20% of people who earn 80% of the money and the 80% of the people who earn 20% of the money?”
The answers are:
- 20% of people that are experts in the field of communication. They know how to ask questions and find the needs and desires of others.
- Successful people are experts in two areas. First, in the field of their work that they are communicating very well with others. Second, communication at the subconscious level.
Once again, it all involves high language skills.