The biological, psychological and sociological concepts of learning

Module details

  • Offered to Year 2 students in Autumn Term - Mondays 16:00-18:00
  • Offered to Year 3 students in Spring Term - Thursdays 16:00-18:00
  • Planned delivery: On campus (South Kensington)
  • 1-term module worth 5 ECTS
  • Available to eligible students as part of I-Explore

Got any questions?

Contact the lecturer
Iro Ntonia
I.ntonia@imperial.ac.uk

This module will introduce you to the concept of learning through exploration of three theoretical frameworks routed in neuroscience, psychology, and the socio-cultural context. You will explore learning first as a biological function of the brain, then as a psychological function of the mind, and finally as a socially-situated activity. You will also experience some research practices and paradigms used to study learning from all three theoretical perspectives. The content of the module will continuously be connected to your experiences as a learner and aims to provide you with strategies you can use to better engage with your future learning.

Please note: The information on this module description is indicative. The module may undergo minor modifications before the start of the coming academic year.

Accordian

Learning outcomes

By the end of this module, you will better be able to: 

  • Critically evaluate the process of learning from a neurological, psychological, and socio-cultural perspective 
  • Reflect on your learning experiences using the neurological, psychological, and socio-cultural theoretical perspectives 
  • Critique how neurological, psychological, and socio-cultural perspectives are (mis)applied in a range of pedagogic contexts 
  • Identify significant pedagogic challenges and/or opportunities and design appropriately theoretically-informed interventions 
Indicative core content

The module takes place over 10 weeks with a two-hour face to face session each week. These sessions will combine expert input with regular opportunity for learners to apply concepts and methods to real-world contexts, including their own. This will be supported by examples, case studies, and discussion.  The face to face sessions will be supported by reading, video and on-line material and will be interactive, to help you learn independently and from each other. Typically, a taught session would require some independent study of the available resources in advance and would include individual and group activity in the classroom. Each of the three core topics (neuroscience, psychology and sociocultural) will be introduced and then used as a theoretical lens to examine educational practice and your experience. For each approach you will also have a chance to familiarise yourself with and experience research methodologies typical of that approach. For example, you may undertake memory and selective attention experimental tasks used by neuroscientists and complete learning inventories or confidence scales used by psychologists. You will also experience observational study of both video material and your own practice as used to investigate education in a sociocultural context. Each thematic area we conclude as part of the module will be followed by you submitting a short, reflection on the topics and ideas we discussed in class, in relation to your learning experiences.

Learning and teaching approach

This module will introduce ideas and theories from neuroscience, psychology and socio-cultural views of learning combining individual independent learning using reading and online support materials with interactive lecture delivery and tutorial group discussion. The approach is designed to help you better appreciate how you and your peers experience learning, and through this develop greater insight and evidence for a range of learning strategies.  You will be exposed to a variety of methodologies used to explore, measure, and understand learning and will participate in simple educational experiments commonly used in each of the three approaches. You will engage in individual and group learning tasks, you will receive and provide regular peer and tutor feedback. 

Formative feedback will be provided on in-class discussions and activities, from tutor and peers. You will also receive formative tutor feedback on your Reflection on Learning submissions.  These will provide feed forward, including for the group-based learning resource task. You will also receive formal feedback on your summative group work submission; this will identify both strengths and areas for improvement to feed forward to future learning. 

Assessment

Coursework:  

  • Reflection on Learning (1,000 - 1,500 words) (50%)

Practical:  

  • Group project (50%, must pass) 
Key information
  • Requirements: It is compulsory to take an I-Explore module during your degree (you’ll take an I-Explore module in either your 2nd or 3rd year, depending on your department). You are expected to attend all classes and undertake approximately 105 hours of independent study in total during the module. Independent study includes for example reading and preparation for classes, researching and writing coursework assignments, project work and preparing for other assessments 
  • I-Explore modules are worth 5 ECTS credit towards your degree; to receive these you will have to pass the module. The numerical mark that you obtain will not be included in the calculation of your final degree result, but it will appear on your transcript 
  • This module is offered by the Faculty Centre for Higher Education Research and Scholarship 
  • This module is designed as an undergraduate Level 6 course