How Do We Learn?

The learning process consists of five stages:

Acquisition Proficiency Maintenance Generalization Adaptation

The Stages of Learning

Acquisition

Proficiency

The first stage in the learning process

The second stage in the learning process

This is where learning a new skill takes place

This is practicing the skill learned until it can be

mastered

Learners tend to perform tasks with less

accuracy

Goal: The student can do the skill automatically

Teachers must model and demonstrate skill

effectively
Teacher will need to use many examples and
tie new skill to previous knowledge

Students tend to be able to perform the skill with

more speed and accuracy
Teacher should monitor students and provide
feedback and correction if needed
Teacher may need to model skill again if needed

Teach background skills needed before

teaching the skill

Students should be provided with activities to aid in

proficiency

Teaching style should be direct with multiple

opportunities for student participation

Teacher should challenge students and motivate

them

The Stages of Learning

Maintenance

Generalization

The third stage of learning

The fourth stage of learning

This is the retention of skills over time

This is where the student can use the skill in

other settings, environments, and around
different people

Teachers can help students with maintenance by

providing intermittent opportunities to practice skill
Reviewing skill should be done periodically and
reteach if necessary
Students need reinforcement from peers and have
self-management skills
Teachers should provide homework so the student
can practice by themselves
Teacher should help the students come up with a
routine to review the skill so student does not forget

The student should be able to link the skill to real

life situations
Teachers should provide opportunities for the
student to generalize
Example: practice skill at a different time
during the day, during field trips away from
campus, in certain areas of the school etc..

The Stages of Learning

Adaptation
The fifth stage of learning
This is when the student uses the skill to problem solve
Teacher should provide the student with opportunities to have student
understand relationships
Ex: Categorizing information, analogies, compare/contrast etc
Student should be encouraged to reflect on what they learned and how they can
use what they learned in life