Insightful Learning

Mark Lemuel L. Arceo, LPT

OBJECTIVES
1. Define Insightful Learning
2. Explain Factors of Insightful Learning and how it Occurs
3. Differentiate Trial and Error Learning and Insightful
Learning.
4. Explain the Implications of Insightful Learning in Education
REMOVE 2 STICKS TO LEAVE 2 SQUARES
CONNECT THE 4 DOTS USING 3 STREIGH LINES
 Eureka!
● Insight learning also involves the
"I have found it!" feeling or
"eureka“.

● Insight learning is also

expressed as the "Aha moment,"
What is Insightful Learning?

Insight learning is a type of learning or problem solving that

happens all-of-a-sudden through understanding the
relationships of various parts of a problem rather than
through trial and error.
The theory of learning by insight is the
contribution of Gestalt Psychologists.

They believe that “The whole is more important

than the sum of its parts”.
INSIGHTFUL LEARNING
It is a theory regarding ‘perception’. Gestaltists consider learning as the
development of insight, which is primarily concerned with the nature of
perception.
Perception is a process by which an organism interprets and
organizes sensation to produce a meaningful experience of the
world.
It is the ultimate experience of the world and typically involves further
processing of sensory input.
Wolfgang Kohler and his contribution to Insightful Learning

Wolfgang Köhler was a

psychologist who conducted
experiments in which insight
learning was observed in animal
behavior.
KOHLER’S EXPERIMENTS
1. In one experiment, Kohler put the chimpanzee,
“Sulthan” inside a cage and a banana was hung
from the roof of a cage. A box was placed inside
the cage. The chimpanzee tried to reach the
banana by jumping but could not succeed.
Suddenly he got an idea and used the box as a
jumping platform by placing it just below the
hanging banana.

2. In another experiment Kohler made this

problem complicated that two or three boxes were
required to reach the banana.
KOHLER’S EXPERIMENTS
3. In a more complicated experiment, a banana
was kept far outside the cage and two sticks –
one larger than the other- were kept inside the
box. When failed to reach the banana by one
stick, with a sudden bright idea the
chimpanzee tried to reach the banana by
joining the two sticks.

These experiments demonstrated the role of

intelligence and cognitive abilities in higher
learning and problem solving situations.
4 Stages of Insight Learning
1: Can’t Solve the problem initially
PREPARATION Data gathering

Problem put on hold

2: INCUBATION
Problem work on unconsciously

3: INSIGHT Suddenly there is a mental representation of solution

4: VERIFICATION SOLUTION CHECKED

Insightful learning depends on certain factors:

1. Experience - Example: Problems of modern mathematics solve

unless he is well acquainted with its symbolic language.
2. Intelligence - More intelligent greater will be his insight.
3. Learning Situation - Insight occurs when the learning situation
is so arranged that all the necessary aspects are open to view.
Insightful learning depends on certain factors:

4. Initial Efforts - Insightful learning has to pass through the trial &
error but this stage does not last in it. it should be in the form of an
initial effort to open the way for learning.
5. Repetition and Generalization - Obtained solution of a problem is
implement in another situation demanding similar type of solution.
So how Insightful Learning Occurs

1. The nature of the situation is very important for insightful learning.

2. The organism reacts to the whole situation, not to its component

parts.

3. The organism perceives the relationships between means and the goal,
and restructures the perceptual field.

4. Insight follows a period of trial and error behavior.

So how Insightful Learning Occurs

5. The insightful solution comes all on a sudden.

6. Once the insightful solution is reached, the organism shows high

degree of retention and transfer to similar problems.

7. Insight is closely related to the organisms capacity to learn.

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN TRIAL AND ERROR LEARNING and
INSIGHFUL LEARNING
1. Trial & Error Learning: Just a process of habit formation. No mental
processes are involved.
Insightful Learning:Higher mental processes like, comprehension perception of
relationships analysis generalization are involved.

2. Trial and Error Learning: Success is due to ‘chance’ after much trial & error.
Insightful Learning: Sudden awareness or insight after implicit trial & error.
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN TRIAL AND ERROR LEARNING and
INSIGHFUL LEARNING
3. Trial and Error Learning:Learning is gradual & needs practice.
Insightful Learning:Insight is ‘sudden’ & doesn’t need practice.

4. Trial and Error Learning:Acquisition, retention & transfer of learning are not
possible.

Insightful Learning:Acquisition, retention & transfer of learning is possible.

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN TRIAL AND ERROR LEARNING and
INSIGHFUL LEARNING
5. Trial and Error Learning: Fit for learning motor skills, language & arithmetic
skills.

Insightful Learning: Fit for learning scientific involving creative thinking

understanding.
IMPLICATION OF INSIGHTFUL LEARNING THEORY IN
EDUCATION
1. From Whole to Parts: The teacher should present the subject matter as a
whole to facilitate insight learning.
2. Integrated Approach: While planning curriculum, gestalt principles should be
given due consideration. A particular subject should not be treated as the mere
collection of isolated facts. It should be closely integrated into a whole.
3. Importance of Motivation: the teacher should arouse the child’s curiosity,
interest and motivation. He should gain full attention of the whole class before
teaching.
IMPLICATION OF INSIGHTFUL LEARNING THEORY IN
EDUCATION
4. Emphasis on Understanding: It has made learning an intelligent task
requiring mental abilities than a stimulus - response association. So the learner
must be given opportunities for using his mental abilities.
5. Problem Solving Approach: This theory emphasis that as the learner is able to
solve problems by his insight, meaningful learning, learning by understanding,
reasoning, etc. must be encouraged in the school.
6. Checking of Previous Experiences: As insight depends upon the previous
experiences of the learner, the teacher must check the previous experiences of
the child and relate them with the new learning situation.
IMPLICATION OF INSIGHTFUL LEARNING THEORY IN
EDUCATION
7. Goal Orientation: As learning is a purposeful and goal oriented task, the
learner has to be well acquainted with these objectives. He should be fully
familiar with the goals and purposes of every task.
Therefore, the teacher should adopt a multiple approach in
learning in the following manner:
(i) Planning lesson:
The teacher should plan his lesson appropriately.

(ii) Providing experiences:

He should provide significant and meaningful experiences to the pupil.

(iii) Bringing integration:

He should bring an integration between theory and practice.