What is Learning?

Definition and Meaning of Learning

Learning is described as the process of having one’s behavior modified, more or less permanently, by
what he does and the consequences of his action, or by what he observes.

It is a process by which an activity originates or is changed through responding to a situation. Learning

involves change.

Change may be good or bad from the organizational point of view.

People can learn unfavorable or favorable behavior. It is the expansion of what one may already know or
perceive. It is the accumulation of knowledge but, more importantly, the application of this knowledge.

It does not happen all at once but builds upon and is shaped by previous knowledge. To that end, learning
may be viewed as a process rather than a collection of factual and procedural knowledge.

Learning produces changes in the organism, and the changes produced are relatively permanent.

If one cannot use newly acquired information for his/her practical use or benefit, then it is doubtful that
he/she is engaged in the learning process.

Definition of Learning
Learning means behavioral modification, especially through experience or conditioning.

1. Steers and Porter defined learning as “relatively permanent change in behavior potentiality that results
from reinforced practice or experience.”

2. Hulse, Deese, and Egeth defined learning as “relatively permanent change in behavior or potential
behavior that results from direct or indirect experience.”

3. According to S.P. Robbins, “Learning is any relatively permanent change in behavior resulting from
experience.”

4. According to Scott Miller, “Learning is a change that occurs in response to thinking or other sensual
stimuli.”

5. According to S. P. Robbins, “Learning is any relatively permanent change in behavior resulting from
experience.”

6. According to Biswanath Ghosh, “Learning is the modification of behavior through experience and
training.”

7. According to Michele Griffin, “Learning is a stance taken by an individual that allows for the
acquisition of information, attitudes, and practices, through observation, seeking previous knowledge,
searching out guides, and looking within as well as without.”

8. Michael L. Ray defines learning as the more or less permanent acquisition of tendencies to behave in
particular ways in response to particular situations or stimuli.

Learning may be defined as a relatively permanent change in behavior that occurs due to prior experience.
When we observe any change in a person’s behavior, we can say that learning has taken place. Learning
means the act, process, or experience of gaining knowledge or skill.

It can change our behavior. By birth, every people learned from his environment. On the other hand,
knowledge or skill gained through schooling or study is also called learning.

Finally, we can say that learning has taken place if individuals behave, react, and respond taken from
others as a result of experiences change in behavior.

Characteristics of Learning
Learning is the process by which one acquires, ingests, and stores or accepts information. Our experiences
with learned information compose our bodies of knowledge. Learning is a process unique to each
individual.

There are some characteristics of learning.

1. Learning involves change.

2. All learning involves activities.
3. Learning Requires Interaction.
4. Constitute Learning.
5. Learning is a Lifelong Process.
6. Learning Occurs Randomly Throughout Life.
7. Learning Involves Problems Solving.
8. Learning is the Process of Acquiring Information.
9. Learning Involves far more than Thinking.
10. Experience is Necessary for Learning.

5 Principles of Learning
Learning Principles

Learning principles are guidelines for the ways in which people learn most effectively. The more these
principles are reflected in training, the more effective training is likely to be.

Research suggests that they apply equally to domestic and international situations. These are the basic
principles or conditions that facilitate learning. Learning is a change in behavior as a result of experience.
All living is learning.

Learning can be defined as a relatively permanent change in behavior potentiality that results from
reinforced practice or experience.

5 principles of learning are;

Participation.
Repetition.
Relevance.
Transference.
Feedback.

1. Participation
Learning should permit and encourage active participation of the learner. Participation improves
motivation and apparently engages more senses that reinforce the learning process. As a result of
participation, people learn more quickly and retain that learning longer.

For example, most people never forget how to ride a bicycle because they actively participated in the
learning process. The learning activities should be experiential rather than just informational.

Therefore, the trainers should arrange the physical surroundings to facilitate small group interaction and
promote the sharing of ideas.

2. Repetition
An important principle of the learning is to provide the learner with the opportunity for practice and
repetition. To gain the full benefit of training learned behaviors must be overlearned to ensure smooth
performance and minimum of forgetting at a later date.

Proficiency in learning and retaining new skills is improved when individuals visualize themselves
performing the new behavior.

3. Relevance
Learning is helped when the material to be learned is meaningful. The learning should be
problem-centered rather than content centered.

People are motivated to learn when training is immediately relevant to help them solve a current problem.
Learning something just because someone says “it is important” is not as motivating.

4. Transference
Because the training occurs in a special environment, an important question to ask is whether learning
will transfer to the actual job situation.

Transfer of training occurs when trainees can apply the knowledge and skills learned in training course to
their jobs. If the learning in one setting does not transfer to the actual job situation, the training has failed.

Three transfers training situations are possible

(1) Positive transfer of training when the training activities enhance performance in the new situation;
(2) negative transfer of training, when the training activities inhibit performance in a new situation; and
(3) no observable effect of training.

5. Feedback
Feedback gives learners information on their progress. Performance feedback is a necessary prerequisite
for learning. Feedback improves performance not only by helping learners correct their mistakes but also
by providing reinforcement for learning.

Knowledge of results is a positive reinforcement itself. Learning activities have more intrinsic interest if
the feedback is available. Nevertheless, performance feedback should do more than inform learners
whether they were right or wrong.

Merely informing the trainees that they were wrong is not as effective as telling them why they were
wrong and how they can avoid making mistakes in the future. In general, knowledge of results is an
essential feature of learning, and this knowledge comes after the learner’s response.
Guidelines for Learning
The guidelines for learning are known as principles of learning. The principles of learning are theoretical
statements summarizing decades of learning research.
By summarizing these, we can know about the following guidelines of learning;

1. Readiness.
2. Recency.
3. Repetitiveness.
4. Reinforcement.
5. Relevance.
6. Feedback.
7. Schedules of Learning.
8. Whole vs. Part Learning.
9. Primacy.
10. Boundary Less.
11. Presentation Effect.
12. Multiples Routes.

You must understand how learning principles impact learning.

Theories of Learning
Learning is the individual growth of the person as a result of cooperative interaction with others. It is the
advancement of understanding that enables the learner to function better in their environment, improve
and adapt behaviors, create and maintain healthy relationships, and achieve personal success.

Learning has taken place if an individual behaves, reacts, and responds taken from others due to
experiences change in behavior or formerly behave.

There are several theories of learning;

A. Classical Conditioning
B. Operant Conditioning
C. Cognitive Theory.
D. Social Learning Theory.

Components of Learning
Learning has taken place if an individual behaves, reacts, and responds in a way taken from others as a
result of experiences. Learning can be defined as the relatively permanent change in behavior potentiality
that results from reinforced practice or experience. It can change our behavior.

By birth, every people learned from his environment. On the other hand, knowledge or skill gained
through schooling or study is also called learning. Learning has many components.

These components are given below:

1. Learning involves change. Change may sound good or bad from an organizational point of view.
People can learn unfavorable behaviors to hold prejudices or to restrict their output.

2. The change must be ingrained. Temporary changes may be only reflexive and may not represent
learning. Therefore the requirement that learning must be relatively permanent.
3. Some form of experience is necessary for learning. Experience may be acquired directly through
observation or practice, or it may be acquired indirectly through reading.

4. Learning involves concentration and participation. It usually is quicker and long-lasting when the
learner participates actively. As a result of participation, people learn more quickly and retain that
learning longer.
These are just a few of all the components of learning.

Barriers of Learning
Barriers to learning are problems or situations that prevent learners from accessing programs, make it
difficult for learners to go to class, or make it hard for learners to concentrate and learn.

1. Presentation problem.
2. Another barrier to learning is changing the expectation of a new culture.
3. Learners do not get appropriate support.
4. Employment-related issues.
5. Sometimes employees cannot concentrate properly.
6. The financial problem can be a barrier to learning.
7. Political influence can be a barrier.

Understand how these barriers to learning influence the learning process.

Overcoming Learning Barriers

Knowledge or skill gained through schooling or study is also called learning. In learning, every learner
has to face some barriers which have to overcome by the learner himself.

Otherwise, they stumble while processing information, taking longer to grasp the concept of requiring
numerous exposures over a sustained period.

To overcome the barriers, learners have to make changes in the ways of learning.

1. Environment.
2. Routine.
3. Verbal Instructions.
4. Respect.
5. Non-curricular Activities.
6. Improving Communication Skills.
7. Giving ICT and Presentation Facilities.
8. Give Concentration.
9. Learn the New Culture before Going There.
10. Provide Effective and Timely Feedback.

Learning is the Continuous Process

Learning is a continuous process of life, the pinnacle of the attitude and vision of the universe. Learning is
the only thing that distinguishes humans from animals. Being a human, we have a great privilege to think.
Thinking is a great thing we all can do.
Conclusion
Learning gives creativity; creativity leads to thinking; thinking provides knowledge; knowledge makes
you great. The learning process is not rigid, and it is continuously happening. It shapes our behavior and
perspective of the world.

Therefore, please let us not limit learning just to a subject. If we can see it with a wide range of thinking,
then the whole world looks very small.