Ways of Learning
Behavioral Learning
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Origins and Theory: Cognitive Learning
Cognitive psychology: attention, information processing, memory
Definition: Lecturing to present specific information that a student is expected to learn and know.
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What students learn: Acquiring Knowledge
Basic information, concepts, and terminology in a discipline or field of study
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What the teacher provides:
Presentations
Explanations
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Example:
Presenting on the order of clinical documentation.
Lecturing about the history and origins of music therapy.
Resources:
Cognitive Learning: https://www.valamis.com/hub/cognitive-learning
Article (Cognitive Learning and Teaching Styles): file:///Users/emilyszillat/Downloads/2021(v7n3)5.pdf
Cognitive Strategies: https://cognassist.com/insights/blog/8-cognitive-strategies-to-enhance-retention-and-learning/
Teacher’s Guide to Cognitive Learning: https://www.structural-learning.com/post/cognitivism-learning-theories
Learning through Inquiry
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Origins and Theory: Learning with Mental Models
Gestalt psychology, problem solving, and decision theory
Definition: Students develop skills and expand problem solving abilties by solving both real-life and/or impractical problems in the classroom setting.
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What students learn: Cultivating problem-solving and decision-making abilities
Mental strategies for finding solutions and making choices
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What the teacher provides:
Problems
Case Studies
Labs
Projects
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Example:
Students are given a case study about a specific client situation and/or diagnosis, and are tasked with coming up with ideas of how a music therapist could support that situation.
Practicing research statistics in a lab-like setting, where students use a statistics program in real time.
Resources:
Video (10 mental models for learning): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7gK6f1ZBRI
Article (understanding mental models): https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/03055698.2022.2052809
Mental Models: https://www.syandus.com/blog/mental-models-the-secret-to-effective-education-and-training-outcomes
Learning through Groups & Teams
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Origins and Theory: Learning through Virtual Realities
Psychodrama, sociodrama, gaming theory
Definition: Using role play, dramatic scenarios, simulations, and/or games as a means of facilitation to create a learning environment that mimics the world and allows students to practice skills in real time.
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What students learn: Practicing professional judgement
Sound judgement and appropriate professional action in coplex, context-dependent situations
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What the teacher provides:
Role Playing
Simulations
Dramatic Scenarios
Games
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Example:
Using games to help teach important concepts, such as clinical process, theorists, etc.
Role playing with students to create real time practice and feedback with different types of music therapy interventions.
Resources:
Virtual Realities for Educators: https://www.xrguru.com/virtual-reality-in-education-for-teachers
Benefits and Tools: https://soeonline.american.edu/blog/benefits-of-virtual-reality-in-education/
Article (learning through role-playing games): https://www.researchgate.net/publication/262519771_Learning_through_role-playing_games_an_approach_for_active_learning_and_teaching
See Motivation page for more resources on role play and games.
Experiential Learning
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Origins and Theory: Behavioral Learning
Behavioral psychology, operant conditioning
Definition: A way of learning that emphasizes the ability to remember and perform content and actions with accuracy.
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What students learn: Building skills
Physical and procedural skills where accuracy, precision, and efficiency are important
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What the teacher provides:
Tasks and Procedures
Practice Exercises
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Example:
Music therapy student can recall the therapeutic process
Music therapy student can sing in key while accompanying themselves on the piano or guitar.
Resources:
Cognitive Learning
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Origins and Theory: Learning through Inquiry
Logic, critical and creative thinking theory, classical philosphy
Definition: Asking open ended, thoughtful questions to support learning and various ways of thinking and can lend way to thoughtful discussions.
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What students learn: Developing critical, creative, and dialogical thinking
Improved thinking and reasoning processes
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What the teacher provides:
Question-Driven Inquiries
Discussions
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Example:
Asking students, “what do you think is the best approach to music therapy and why?”
Guiding a discussion about ethics—what is considered ethical and nonethical and why?
Resources:
Inquiry-Based Learning: https://www.queensu.ca/ctl/resources/instructional-strategies/inquiry-based-learning#:~:text=They%20suggest%20that%20teaching%20through,and%20refining%20their%20inquiry%20skills.
Video (4 types of inquiry based learning): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y16YKqV9b_I
Benefits and Strategies: https://www.prodigygame.com/main-en/blog/inquiry-based-learning-definition-benefits-strategies
Learning with Mental Models
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Origins and Theory: Learning through Groups and Teams
Human comunication theory, goup counseling theory
Definition: Structured activities where students work in small groups (3-4 people) throughout the length of a course, to find the best answers to a problem, or when students work together using discussions of agreement and disagreement to come up with several possible answers.
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What students learn: Exploring attitudes, feelings, and perspectives
Awareness of attitudes, biases, and other persepctives; ability to collaborate
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What the teacher provides:
Group Activities
Team Projects
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Example:
Tasking students with a group project of presenting on a certain diagnosis or intervention.
Having students work together to define music therapy.
Resources:
Collaborative Learning Approaches: https://educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/education-evidence/teaching-learning-toolkit/collaborative-learning-approaches
Using Groups and Teams: https://otl.du.edu/plan-a-course/teaching-resources/using-groups-and-teams/
Implementing Group Work: https://uwaterloo.ca/centre-for-teaching-excellence/catalogs/tip-sheets/implementing-group-work-classroom
Teamwork and Collaborative Learning: https://tltc.umd.edu/instructors/resources/teamwork-collaborative-learning
Learning through Virtual Realities
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Origins and Theory: Experiential Learning
Experiential learning, cognitive neuroscience, constructivism
Definition: Immersing a student in an educational experience to foster learning and growth.
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What students learn: Reflecting on experience
Self-discovery and personal growth from real world experience
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What the teacher provides:
Internships
Service-Learning
Study Abroad
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Example:
Clinical Practicum course where students work with clients, write clinical documentation, and apply the skills they have learned and are learning in the classroom.
Music therapy internship where students work full-time (40-hours/week) to learn advanced skills, transition into the workforce, and more.
Resources:
Video (building experiential learning into classroom): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AD0J6M7W1RI
Teaching Strategies: https://crlt.umich.edu/tstrategies/tsel
Why and How: https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/how-to-teach-experiential-learning
Article (improving teaching and learning): https://www.cambridgescholars.com/resources/pdfs/978-1-5275-4384-3-sample.pdf
References
Davis, J. R. & Arend, B. D. (2013). Facilitating Seven Ways of Learning. Taylor and Francis Group. DOI: 10.4324/9781003444763