Types and Domains of Learning – indianagriexam.com

ASRB NET / SRF & Ph.D. Extension Education

Types of Learning & Domains of Learning

1. Types of Learning; Learning is defined as a relatively permanent change in behavior that occurs as a result of experience or practice.

Common Types of Learning (Based on educational psychology):

Type	Description	Example in Extension
Motor Learning	Learning through muscular coordination	Ploughing, spraying pesticides
Verbal Learning	Learning through language, symbols	Reading pamphlets, listening to talks
Concept Learning	Recognizing patterns and categories	Understanding “organic farming” concept
Discrimination Learning	Distinguishing between stimuli	Identifying crop vs. weed
Problem-solving Learning	Logical reasoning and innovation	Finding solutions to low yield
Attitude Learning	Developing opinions or feelings	Positive attitude towards scientific practices
Serial Learning	Learning in sequence	Steps in vermicomposting or irrigation system
Associative Learning	Linking two stimuli/events	Farmer associating pests with damaged leaves

Domains of Learning; Developed by Benjamin Bloom and colleagues, learning objectives are divided into three domains:

Cognitive Domain (Knowledge-based)

Focuses on mental skills and knowledge acquisition.

Levels of Cognitive Domain (Bloom’s Taxonomy – Revised):

Level	Action Verbs	Example
1. Remembering	Recall, list, define	List the types of fertilizers
2. Understanding	Explain, describe	Explain crop rotation
3. Applying	Use, solve	Apply fertilizer calculations
4. Analyzing	Differentiate, compare	Compare organic and chemical farming
5. Evaluating	Judge, critique	Evaluate effectiveness of drip irrigation
6. Creating	Design, formulate	Develop a farm plan

Affective Domain (Attitude-based)

Focuses on emotions, attitudes, values, and feelings.

Levels of Affective Domain (Krathwohl’s Taxonomy):

Level	Description	Example
1. Receiving	Awareness, willingness to listen	Attending a field demonstration
2. Responding	Active participation	Asking questions in training
3. Valuing	Showing commitment	Supporting organic farming practices
4. Organization	Integrating values	Prioritizing eco-friendly practices
5. Characterization	Consistent behavior	Lifelong commitment to sustainable agriculture

Psychomotor Domain (Skill-based)

Focuses on physical skills and motor activities.

Simpson’s Psychomotor Levels (commonly used):

Level	Description	Example
1. Perception	Sensory cues to guide action	Identifying pest symptoms
2. Set	Readiness to act	Willing to use new tools
3. Guided Response	Imitation of action	Practicing sowing with guidance
4. Mechanism	Skill with confidence	Operating seed drill machine
5. Complex Overt Response	Precision performance	Performing grafting independently
6. Adaptation	Modifying skills	Altering sowing method based on soil type
7. Origination	Creating new movement patterns	Innovating a farm tool

Learning Theories; Learning theories explain how people acquire, process, and retain knowledge during learning. In extension education, these theories guide the design of teaching methods and materials.

Behaviorism

Key Theorists: B.F. Skinner, Ivan Pavlov, J.B. Watson
Concept: Learning is a change in behavior due to stimulus-response (S-R) associations.
Method: Reinforcement (positive/negative), conditioning.
Example: A farmer adopts a new practice after repeated demonstration and reward.
Pavlov’s Classical Conditioning and Skinner’s Operant Conditioning are core models.

Cognitivism

Key Theorists: Jean Piaget, Jerome Bruner
Concept: Learning is a mental process involving memory, thinking, problem-solving, and understanding.
Focuses on how information is received, organized, stored, and retrieved by the mind.
Example: A farmer learns to calculate fertilizer dosage through mental processing.

Constructivism

Key Theorists: Lev Vygotsky, John Dewey, Piaget (also)
Concept: Learners actively construct their own knowledge based on experiences.
Learning is learner-centered, contextual, and social.
Example: Farmers co-learn during participatory rural appraisal (PRA) or field schools.

Experiential Learning

Concept:

Learning through direct experience, reflection, and active involvement.
Learners do, observe, reflect, and apply.
“Learning is the process whereby knowledge is created through the transformation of experience.” – David A. Kolb

Kolb’s Experiential Learning Cycle (1984)

Stage	Explanation
Concrete Experience	Doing/having an experience (e.g., field demonstration)
Reflective Observation	Thinking about the experience (discussion, feedback)
Abstract Conceptualization	Learning from the experience (theory, principles)
Active Experimentation	Applying the learning (trying new methods/practices)

This cycle is continuous and helps deepen learning.

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