Introduction: The model can be used
in almost any learning situation and for very diverse subjects from management
to athletics, from music to mathematics, and from cookery to driving. Apart from providing a practical model for
instruction, the purpose of the model is to separate the behaviorist/connectionist
thinking of learning from the gestalt/cognitive.
Whole Part Whole
The Whole-Part-Whole (WPW) learning model offers a helpful framework for developing training and instruction for adults. It was developed to combine theory and best practices in the design of learning programs. The model is meant to mirror the natural whole-part-whole rhythm in learning.
The steps in the WPW learning model are outlined in The Adult Learner by Malcolm S. Knowles, Elwood F. Holton III, and Richard A. Swanson, a book that has been described as the definitive classic in adult education and human resource development. WPW learning model As can be seen in the chart, learners are exposed to the first “whole,” in which they are prepared for new instruction by being presented a “mental scaffolding”—the learning objectives and building-block concepts placed within the larger framework of the topic. This clear, learner-oriented introduction also serves to motivate learners and provide context for learning. |
wpw_learning_process_ppt.pptx | |
File Size: | 1781 kb |
File Type: | pptx |
Conclusion: The
first whole provides a starting point, explains why, what and how of what is
being taught as well as providing the motivation. The parts are the
instructional parts which can themselves be organized into Whole-Part-Whole
models. The second whole is the drawing together of the parts which leads to
greater understanding of that whole which in turn prepares the learner for
further instruction and understanding.