The Garden of Learning Theory: How Learning Happens from Seed to Sapling

By: Kyra DeLoach

Garden of Learning infographic by Kyra DeLoach

As someone who does not teach that is in an Educational Technology program, it can be hard to come up with examples in my courses or relate to my classmates. When it came to creating my own theory of learning, it made me feel way out of my element. I have learned so much during my time in CEP 800 Psychology of Learning in Schools and Other Settings that changed the way I thought about learning and introduced me to many different theories of learning.

Throughout my time, one thing was consistent -- I kept going back to Behaviorism. In my position as a Residence Hall Manager, I work with different students every day. Learning looks different for everyone, and each student has a different background and story. That being said, learning looks different for all those students however in most learning scenarios with my students we see a change in behavior due to their interactions and environment. Behaviorism assumes that all learning occurs through interactions with the environment and that environment shapes behavior (Cherry 2023). 

After my research, I thought about how else I could connect my beliefs to something that I am passionate about that can describe my theory – Gardening was the easy choice. In this report, I will explain The Garden of Learning Theory: How Learning Happens from Seed to Sapling. Learning is like gardening. Learning plants a seed, the plant that grows can be anything. A fruit, a flower, but it has to have a seed. That is where the learning starts. The final growth is assessment.

The Seed: Stimulus 

The seed represents a stimulus in behaviorism. Just like how a seed is the starting point for a plant's growth, a stimulus is the starting point for a behavior. A stimulus can be Unconditioned, Neutral, or Conditioned. Regardless of the type represented, the stimulus is helping lay the groundwork for the baseline– what do they know, what are the factors in the learning, etc. The seed is also a start of assessment, whatever the objectives are as they are set in this stage.

The Soil: Environment

When it comes to growing plants, the type of soil you use can make a difference in the development of your plant. The same can be said of the soil in the Garden of Learning. The soil represents the environment in which the plant grows. Similarly, in behaviorism, the environment plays a crucial role in shaping behavior. The environment includes all external factors such as social influences, rewards, punishments, and situational cues that impact an individual's behavior. The environment impacts the associations that students will make with learning. An example of this is using ‘classical conditioning in the class by creating a positive classroom environment to help students overcome anxiety or fear’ (Cherry 2023). The environment will impact the learning.

The Water - Reinforcement

Water is essential for the growth of a plant. In behaviorism, reinforcement acts like water—it strengthens the likelihood of a behavior occurring again. Reinforcement refers to anything that increases the likelihood that a response will occur (Cherry 2023).  Positive reinforcement involves presenting a rewarding stimulus after a behavior, making it more likely to be repeated. For instance, if a child receives praise for completing their homework, they are more likely to continue completing their homework in the future.

The Sunlight - Conditioning

Sunlight provides energy for photosynthesis, allowing the plant to grow and thrive. Similarly, conditioning in behaviorism helps shape and modify behavior. There are two types of conditioning: classical and operant. Classical conditioning involves learning through association, where a neutral stimulus becomes associated with a meaningful stimulus. Operant conditioning involves learning through consequences, where behaviors are strengthened or weakened depending on the consequences that follow. Reinforcement and punishment take place in natural settings all the time, as well as in more structured settings such as classrooms or therapy sessions (Cherry 2023). Both types of conditioning play a significant role in shaping behavior, just as sunlight plays a vital role in the growth of a plant.

The Growth - Behavior

The growth of the plant represents behavior in this analogy. Just as a plant grows and develops in response to its environment, organisms learn and adapt their behavior based on their ‘experiences and interactions with the environment. (Cherry 2023). Regardless of the plant, the sapling, the flower, or the fruit – if there is growth you will see the behavior change. 

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Garden of Learning Theory offers an overall perspective on the process of learning, making connections between caring for a garden and cultivating knowledge. Just as a gardener carefully tends to seeds, providing the right stimuli, environment, reinforcement, and conditioning, educators play a vital role in shaping the learning experiences of their students. By recognizing the importance of behaviorism and its principles in understanding how individuals learn and adapt, we can better recognize the differences of our learners and know how to find the baseline, give them what they need to grow, and assess the outcomes we are looking for.

References

Cherry, K. (2023, April 4).  Positive and Negative Reinforcement in Operant Conditioning  Conditioned Reinforcer Examples and How They’re Used. verywellmind. https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-reinforcement-2795414

Cherry, K. (2023, May 1).  What Is Classical Conditioning in Psychology?  How It Works, Terms to Know, and Examples. verywellmind. https://www.verywellmind.com/classical-conditioning-2794859

Cherry, K. (2023, February 24).  What Is Operant Conditioning?  How Reinforcement and Punishment Modify Behavior. verywellmind. https://www.verywellmind.com/operant-conditioning-a2-2794863

Mcleod, S. (2024, February 1). Classical Conditioning: How It Works With Examples. SimplyPsychology. https://www.simplypsychology.org/classical-conditioning.html