Psychology of Learning

Code:

P104

Acronym:

PA

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Psychology

Instance: 2015/2016 - 1S

Active?	Yes
Web Page:	https://sigarra.up.pt/fpceup/pt/conteudos_adm.list?pct_pag_id=1009119&pct_parametros=pv_ocorrencia_id=368523
Responsible unit:	Psychology
Course/CS Responsible:	Integrated Master Psychology

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
MIPSI	178	Official Curricular Structure	1	-	6	54	162

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

Students should be able to: (1) know the major basic learning mechanisms; (2) understand and discuss the various learning types and major theories and models; (3) outline some of the major literature references and communicate information about this area; (4) attend as subjects in small experiments and demonstrations in order to integrate knowledge and skills.

Learning outcomes and competences

At the end of the course, students should be able to: (1) know and understand basic and complex learning mechanisms; (2) describe and explain the various learning types and major theories and models; (3) apply the acquired knowledge to practical situations, such as school learning in university settings; (4) analyse, write and communicate information about learning in order to integrate information and skills. 

Working method

Presencial

Pre-requirements (prior knowledge) and co-requirements (common knowledge)

n/a

Program

(1) Brain, mind, cognition and learning: Interdependence with other cognitive processes.
(2) Learning: Beliefs about the scope of learning; Behaviorist and cognitive definitions; Main types and models of learning.
(3) Habituation: Stimuli familiarization mechanisms, permanence and explanatory factors.
(4) Classical conditioning (CC): Pavlov pioneering studies; pavlovian learning processes; Watson’s studies of emotional learning; Recent studies of CC; Rescorla-Wagner model; General explanations of the CC.
(5) Operant conditioning (OC): Thorndike and Skinner’s pioneering studies; Experimental studies and types of OC; Reinforcement: Types and explanations; Reinforcement and punishment; Shaping; OC applications to clinical and education.
(6) Verbal learning (VL): Ebbinghaus and Bartlett’s pioneering studies; VL types and measures; Cognitive revolution, VL and its relationship with human memory.
(7) Learning concepts and categories; Discriminative perception, categorization and thinking; Classical and prototype categorization models; Measures of categorization.
(8) Other theories of learning: learning studies and explanations according to the gestalt system; learning by observation and imitation; learning in artificial environments and the neo-connectionist model.
(9) School Learning (SL): Analysis of cognitive processes of organization, depth of processing, prior knowledge and meta-cognitive skills.
(10) Conclusion: Learning and its relationship with other cognitive processes.

Mandatory literature

Pinto Amâncio da Costa; Psicologia da aprendizagem e memória. ISBN: 978-989-8148-80-3
Bransford John D. 340; How people learn. ISBN: 0-309-07036-8
Anderson John R.; Learning and memory. ISBN: ISBN 0-471-24925-4
Pinto Amâncio da Costa; Psicologia geral. ISBN: 972-674-339-7

Comments from the literature

Reference to additional scientific papers and other documents will be made at the end of each lesson or chapter of the program and indicated in their briefs.

Teaching methods and learning activities

Most classes are tutorial and they are supported with PPTs, video clips, a few demonstrations and experiments, timely class discussions in the Moodle plataform, and occasional brief assessments of the current class.

keywords

Social sciences > Psychological sciences > Psychology > Experimental psychology
Social sciences > Psychological sciences > Cognitive science
Social sciences > Educational sciences > Learning studies
Health sciences > Neuroscience > Neuropsychology

Evaluation Type

Evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

designation	Weight (%)
Exame	100,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	110,00
Frequência das aulas	42,00
Trabalho laboratorial	10,00
Total:	162,00

Eligibility for exams

To obtain frequency, class attendance is not compulsory, but it is highly recommended and it is valued in the final exam, whenever students make specific references to the lectures attended.

Calculation formula of final grade

The final grade is the result of the final examination (100%).
Students must obtain 10 marks out of 20 for approval.

Examinations or Special Assignments

Special Assignments are provided only for students with special needs who can not attend classes in whole or in part, and the required assignment can be adapted to each special case. It is also possible to provide Special Assignments to Erasmus students on request in the first class.

Internship work/project

n/a

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

Worker students: According to Faculty regulations. Students with special needs and Erasmus students should inform and contact the teacher, as early as possible.

Classification improvement

It is possible, according to Faculty regulations.

Observations

The resources available and activities to be implemented in P104-Psychology of Learning will be centered on the Moodle platform.
Portuguese is the language of course instruction, but English can be used with Erasmus students on individual tutorials.