BASIC CHARACTERISTICS OF LEARNING

I) Learning has to change behaviour;
ii) The change should be relatively permanent;
iii) The change should be as a result of experience;
iv) Learning is an internal process;
v) Learning occurs under conditions of directed attention and deliberate effort; and
vi) Learning is distinct from biological maturation and imprinting
Maturation
Maturation, a borrowed concept from Biology, refers to the physiological development of a
growing person. Maturation is specifically used for qualitative changes in the organism which
are not induced by learning. The relationship between maturation and learning is very close,
because learning takes place within a certain level of maturation.

Maturation, has been defined by Gleitman, H. (1996) as programmed growth process which
is relatively unaffected by environmental condition. E.g. walking in humans. For training to
yield effective results, a defined level of maturation is required. For example, learning and
training should start when a child reaches an appropriate level of maturation which implies
concept of readiness for an activity. Teachers and parents must not ignore the child’s level of
maturation otherwise it would be a waste of time and effort to expect a child to perform a task
or learn materials he/she is not matured enough to undertake.
IMPRINTING
Learning is sometimes confused with the psychological concept, imprinting. Imprinting is an
instinctive reaction an organism displays that capitalizes on certain tendencies which appears
whenever the time is ripe. For instance, at certain times after hatching, new duckling can be
induced to follow any moving object nearby. The timing is right and behaviour of following
is inborn which guides certain species of animals such as bird, reptiles or fish to behave in
certain predictable manner. But unlike these other animals, human beings do not have this
genetic code of imprinting. Humans rather behave according to their experience in the course
of their interaction with the environment.
BOREDOM:
Boredom is not permanent. It is often a result of over labouring of self with some mental or
physical activities. After taking enough rest, boredom is removed.
INSTINCT
This is an unlearned response. It is inborn. For instance, sucking of mother’s breast by a new
born baby, cock crowing and neonatal cry are not learning.
REFLEX ACTION
These are some actions that the organism does not have control over. Some of these actions
are heart beat, sneezing, coughing, breathing, etc. some are permanent while some are
temporary. Yet, they cannot be said to be learning.
Based on the above discussions, it could be deduced that:
► not all experiences could produce learning;
► not all changed behaviours are as a result of learning;
► not all stimuli that produce responses are permanent; and
► there are some behaviours that are permanent which are not due to experience.