Unit 24: Understanding the Learning process

Unit code:

F/601/1657

QCF level:

Credit
value:

15

Aim
The aim of this unit is to enable learners to develop understanding of different theories and styles of
learning and to apply this to learning strategies within the health and social care workplace.

Unit abstract
The unit investigates the learning process. Learners will explore current theories of learning and relate
these to the development of practical skills and the acquisition of knowledge and understanding. The
unit provides an understanding of the different ways in which individuals learn and can be supported
in the health and social care workplace to develop practice. Learners will draw on their own
experience to suggest ways of supporting learning. Learners will investigate individual learning needs
and consider how practice in the health and social care workplace can provide support for care
workers. They will explore ways of planning learning opportunities and the factors that contribute to
successful delivery or learning in the workplace.
This unit is particularly appropriate for those with responsibilities for supporting the learning of others
in the workplace, but would be equally useful for practitioners to use as part of their own personal and
professional development.

Learning outcomes
On successful completion of this unit a learner will:
1 Understand different theories of learning
2 Understand the impact of learning styles on learning by individuals
3 Be able to suggest strategies for delivering and assessing learning in a health and social care
workplace
4 Understand how to support the individual learning needs of health and social care workers.

Unit content

1 Understand different theories of learning

Domains of learning: Blooms Taxonomy of learning domains (cognitive, psychomotor, affective)

Theories of learning: behaviourist, gestalt, cognitive, humanistic

Different ways in which learning can occur: learning cycle (Kolb), learning circles (Race); learning
through doing, learning through experience; planning, teaching, observing, mentoring, tutoring,
demonstration, feedback

2 Understand the impact of learning styles on learning by individuals

Learning style: visual, aural, tactile, kinaesthetic; activist, reflector, pragmatist, theorist
Influences: motivation, environment, culture, communication, past experience
Own learning: motivation, responsibilities, experiential, learning from others, learning by doing

Be able to suggest strategies for delivering and assessing learning in a health and social care
workplace
Factors to be considered: benefits eg for the user of services, team, organisation, individual; quality
systems; learning outcomes required; resources available; scheduling; occupational standards;
learning styles
Teaching
strategies: work-based, through
experience;
learning
in
groups,
individual
learning,classroom-based teaching, mentoring, tutoring, shadowing, demonstration, coaching, online,
question and answer, independent learning; one-to-one, groups
Strategies for delivering learning: planning, induction, resources and materials, guidance, personal
support, monitoring and review, feedback, Individual Learning Plans, formative assessment,
summative assessment
Techniques for assessing learning: testing eg question and answer; observation eg direct, expert
witness records; evidence-based eg projects, presentations, artefacts produced; against National
Occupational Standards

Understand how to support the individual learning needs of health and social care workers
Learning needs: literacy, numeracy, IT, second language, sensory impairment, dyslexia, dyspraxia,
attention deficit, time-management
Diagnostic tools: for literacy, numeracy; oral, paper-based, online
Support for individual learning needs: teaching strategies, technical aids, learning materials, planning
learning, teaching, assessing, providing feedback, supporting quality assurance

Learning outcomes and assessment criteria

Learning outcomes

Assessment criteria for pass

On successful completion of
this unit a learner will:

The learner can:

LO1 Understand different

theories of learning

1.1explain how different domains of learning apply to

learning in health and social care
1.2explain different ways in which learning can occur in
health and social care workplaces
1.3analyse how theories of learning relate to the
development of understanding and skills in health and
social care

LO2 Understand the impact of

learning styles on learning by
individuals

2.1explain different factors that can influence the

effectiveness of learning
2.2explain concepts of learning style
2.3assess own preferred learning style
2.4analyse influences on own learning in relation to
learning theory

LO3 Be able to suggest strategies

for delivering and assessing

learning in a health and
social care workplace

3.1describe factors to be considered when planning a

workplace learning programme
3.2present relevant teaching strategies to support the
learning of others for a health and social care workplace
3.3suggest a strategy for delivering and assessing learning
in a health and social care workplace

LO4 Understand how to support

the individual learning needs
of health and social care
workers.

4.1explain barriers to learning that maybe encountered by

individuals in the health and social care workplace
4.2describe methods of identifying individual learning
needs
4.3evaluate different approaches that could be adopted to
support the individual learning needs of health and
social care workers.

Guidance

Links
This unit has links with, for example:

Unit 4: Personal and Professional Development in Health and Social Care

Unit 13: Managing Human Resources in Health and Social Care
Unit 23: Employability Skills.
This unit also has links with the National Occupational Standards in Health and Social Care.
See Annexe B for mapping.

Essential requirements

It is essential that this unit is delivered by a tutor who can introduce learners to learning and
assessment processes, as are required for completion of the unit.

Employer engagement and vocational contexts

Relevant information on lifelong and work-based learning can be found at the
following:www.ento.org.uk
www.lluk.org
www.niace.org.uk