Gestalt theory principles and learning applications

Gestalt Theory

There are many theories and principles of learning. All of which are aimed at facilitating a successful learning experience for both the educator and the learner. Among the initiators of the study of learning is now known as Gestalt Principles of Learning. Even from the very beginning, Gestalt Theory of Learning highlights the very methods of processing learning.

The Beginning of Gestalt Theory

It was the later part of 1890 when Gestalt theory was considered as part of the learning practice. At first, Christian von Ehrenfels, who coined the term Gestalt, used this theory in denoting the "experiences that require more than the basic sensory capacities to be understood" (The Columbia Encyclopedia, 2006). It was in 1912 when the term Gestalt was attached other psychological perspectives initiated by Max Wertheimer, Wolfgang Kohler and Kurt Koffka. This was the time when Gestalt as a theory and part of the principles of learning was started to be used to interpret the "phenomena of organized wholes rather than in the aggregates of distinct parts." Simply put, this theory has maintained the idea that "the whole is greater than the sum of its parts" (The Columbia Encyclopedia, 2006).

Application of the Gestalt Theory in the Learning Process

Gestalt Theory and Stimuli

In gestalt theory, it is believed that every responses created by the individual is affected by certain stimuli. However, if two people will be subjected to exactly the same stimuli, there is a high possibility that their reactions will be extremely different because there are other factors that could affect the response - such as their past experiences (Cook, 1993). Like for example when subjecting two children into a certain stimuli like a mug of hot chocolate. If the first child has already experienced being burnt by a hot chocolate in the past, he/she would slowly touch the lid of the mug first to determine if it is hot or not. And then, if he/she felt that it is, he/she would stay away from the mug. Meanwhile, a child who has not had any experience with a hot chocolate in the past will quickly grab the mug, and directly drink its contents.

Indeed, from this point-of-view alone, stimuli coupled with the past experiences will comprise for a certain reaction from a person. This goes the same with learning. An individual who has been subjected to a similar topic or learning undertaking in the past will have a different response from a person who does not have seen, heard nor felt the same stimuli in the past.

Moreover, in the Gestalt theory, it is perceived that an individual or any learner for that matter can categorize the types or kinds of stimuli presented to him/her. Such categorization is dependent on the individual's own perception.

There are series of laws in the Gestalt Theory summarizing the individuals' perception of categorizing certain stimuli. First of which is the Law of Pragnanz. In this law, it is stated that if "a perceptual field is disorganized when an organism first experiences it, the organism imposes order on the field in a predictable way" (Blosser, 1973). It is implied in this law that the perception of what is good and what is not is being followed by the individual. Like for example if an individual has been subjected to a room on disarray - with lots of things on the floor, on the shelves, etc. - the person will react on a very predictable way regarding her/own personality. Thus, if there will be a watcher outside, and who knows that the person inside the room hates disorderliness, the viewer can easily predict that the person inside the room will slowly the room and arrange the things. This is because the person inside the room has the common notion that clean is good an unorganized is bad. Hence, to keep being good, he, himself, will make it happen, even if nobody has instructed him to do so.

Gestalt Theory and the Pragnanz Law

Pragnanz Law, as part of the Gestalt Theory of Learning is connected with five other laws. These include (Blosser, 1973):

Similarity - which implies that "similar items should be grouped together"

Proximity - which states that things are arranged according to nearness of its parts or types

Closure - that implies that things that are already completed should be grouped together

Good Continuation - wherein the things are categorized according to its expected ending. Like for example lines will be straightened to appear that it really is a straight line, or the curves will be curved more so as to ensure that it will look like curves.

Membership Character: which implies that a single most part of the whole is greatly defined by the general context in which the single part appears

An individual who will be subjected to various types of stimuli is believed to be providing different reactions in reference to the laws stated above. Like for example a child who is given with several items in front of him. If there are apple, orange, banana, paper, scissor and crayon, and he will be asked to arrange the things in any way he wants it. The child would most likely group apple, orange and banana on the other side while the paper, scissor and crayon will be on the other side. This is in accordance to the law of Similarity.

Gestalt Theory and the Constructivism Point-of-View vs. The other Learning Theories

Due to further researches and analysis, it was found out that Gestalt Theory and Principles of Learning is closely related with J.S. Bruner's theory of Constructivism. In constructivism, curiosity is its product. Based on any individual's daily interaction with other people, he/she will be able to acquire thoughts or ideas for the first time. Being a human being, with all the potential to learn and perceive things may perceive thoughts or ideas based on what he/she knows about it personally, based on the previous experiences. It may either be correct or wrong, but what matters the most is that the perceived idea will remain and be stored in the mind (Bednar, 1991).

The idea behind constructivism is that the learner is building an internal representation of knowledge, a personal interpretation of experience. This representation is constantly open to change, its structure and linkages forming the foundation to which other knowledge structures are appended. Learning is an active process in which meaning is developed on the basis of experience. Conceptual growth comes from the sharing of multiple perspectives and simultaneous changing of our internal representations in response to those perspectives as well as through cumulative experience (Bednar, 1991).

Therefore, as the days pass, an individual's perception of the meaning of new thoughts or ideas that he knows from other people may change everyday. He may gain new ideas everyday and may experience new things everyday. These experiences may influence his perception of the idea that he acquires from other people. This is the level where he creates his own opinion of this idea.

Constructivism is one of the first theories in acquiring knowledge. Founded on Kantian beliefs, it is a theory of learning based on the idea that knowledge is constructed by the knower on metal activity. In this stage, humans are recognized as perceivers and interpreters who construct their own reality through engaging in those mental activities (Bednar, 1991).

Learners are considered to be active organisms seeking meaning. The constructivism theory believes that the constructions of meaning may initially bear little relationship to reality but will become increasing more complex, differentiated and realistic as time goes on. Thinking is grounded in perception of physical and social experiences, which can only be comprehended by the mind. What the mind produces are mental models that explain to the knower what he or she has perceived. People all conceive of the external reality somewhat differently, based on the unique set of experiences with the world and the beliefs about them (Bednar, 1991).

The next important level in the learning process is Epistemology. It is the study of what is really meant by "knowledge." As opposed to Constructivism, Epistemology is not merely a creation of perception or having an opinion. This issue has been at the core of Western philosophy since before Socrates, since, until it has been answered, all other questions become unsolvable (academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/history/virtual/glossary.htm, 2006).

Epistemology is knowing deeply what a person wants to learn and how deep would the learning outcome be. It is being concerned with what is behind knowledge (academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/history/virtual/glossary.htm, 2006).

Metacognition, the another level of thinking, refers to higher order of thinking that involves an active control over the cognitive processes engaged in learning. It entails planning upon how to approach a given learning task, monitoring comprehension, and evaluating its progress toward the completion of that task. It is thinking before doing something. In the simplest expression, however, it is thinking before thinking. (www.datarat.net/DR/Lex-M.html,2006). An example of this is an awareness and understanding of how one thinks and uses strategies during reading and writing. (www.armour.k12.sd.us/Mary's%20Classes/literary_terms_glossary.htm,2006)

Since all learners are curios by nature, the tendency is to engage into a situation right away to be able to learn about the new things that he has discovered. However in this level of thinking, this typical human occurrence is contested by this level. Metacognition encourages a deep assessment of the situation first before involving into the act of doing it. A person has to study first the things that he might be doing in order to learn what he really wants to know. At this point, a person has to create within his thoughts the mode of learning that he would want to undergo to be able to satisfy the need for knowing the true meaning of the new ideas he has acquired.

A person has to be creative in his strategies to make the learning process more meaningful and satisfactory for him. He has to become aware of the consequences of the course that he intended to follow. The need to analyze the capabilities and the willingness to take the risk upon the learning process should be put into consideration. Most importantly, one has to know exactly what he wants to learn about.

Cognitive development, another theory of learning refers to how a person perceives, thinks, and gains an understanding of the world. This is in response to the interaction and influence of genetic and learned factor. Among the areas of cognitive development are information processing, intelligence, reasoning, language development and memory (Wadsworth, 2003)

In this theory, as opposed to the Gestalt Theory of Learning, there is a creation of schemas, which are the mental models of how the world works. These schemas are the organized patterns of behavior of people in the society. In cognitive development, assimilation and accommodation are the two general processes of learning. Assimilation is the putting new things into old schemas or merely adding of information to the existing structure. Accommodation is modifying existing schemas to fit new experiences. (http://io.uwinnipeg.ca/~epritch1/pianalz.htm,2006).

It can be summarized from these points-of-views that Gestalt Theory of Learning and the Constructivism point-of-view are very much similar in terms of establishing a learning experience. Both theories highlight stimulus, feedbacks, and previous experiences that take part to the ultimate learning endeavor.

On the other hand, when compared to other ideas of learning such as in the cognitive approach or the idea of epistemology and metacognition among others, although the end result is just the same - learning undertaking - the very methods of processing the learning are very different. Processing, reasoning and/or language development - these are all part of the succeeding steps of learning. Thus, it can be inferred that Gestalt Theory of Learning can be considered as the most basic and the initial step to facilitating learning, while the other theories of learning may be used after the Gestalt theory application.

Conclusion

Gestalt Theory and Principles of learning is very much useful then and now. Any teacher or educator who would want to facilitate a successful learning endeavor can use and apply the theories suggested in this theory of learning for the result is always astounding.

It should be noted that just the fact that trace memory, constructivism and memory recognition are important aspect of the Gestalt principle makes it a powerful tool for learning. The most important thoughts to consider when it comes to Gestalt theory of learning are:

Every first experience will always be used for further learning.

Every lessons gained in the past will be used to assimilate new learning.

Stimuli and responses will always go hand in hand

Trace memory is used to successfully solve a problem

Insights and perceptions also leads to problem solving skills

Forgetting would mean difficulty in solving the problem

All the above-stated thoughts are part of the Gestalt Theory and Principles pf learning. once a learner and an educator manages to handles all these properly, then the learning outcome will prove to be successful.