Learning, contextual

Keywords Real world engineering Diversity Socioeconomic status Skilled practice Hands on learning Contextual knowledge Community colleges... 

Characteristics of contextual learning. Drawing on its roots in constructivist learning theory, as well as theories of cognition and learning, contextual learning has the following characteristics ... 

Sahiner B, Chan HP, Roubidoux MA et al (2004) Computerized characterization of breast masses on three-dimensional ultrasound volumes. Med Phys 31 744-754 Sajda P, Spence C, Pearson J et al (2002) Learning contextual relationships in mammograms using a hierarchical pyramid neural network. IEEE Trans Med Imaging 21 239-250... 

Van Oers, B. (1998). From context to contextualization. Learning and Instruction, 8, 473 88. Vygotsky, L. (1986). Thought and language. Cambridge, MA, MIT Press. 

The influence of BDNF regulation of synaptic function on behaviour has still to be fully determined. Rats treated with antibodies to BDNF (icv) were signihcantly impaired in a spatial learning task (Mu et ah, 1999). Levels of BDNF expression in CAl were rapidly and selectively increased following contextual fear conditioning, a form of learning also dependent on the hippocampus (Hall et ah, 2000). 

PKC signaling is also involved in the plasticity underlying fear learning and memory. Inhibition of PKC in rats impairs acquisition of fear conditioning (Goosens et al. 2000 Li et al. 2002) and mice with a knockout of the isoform of protein kinase C have deficient cued and contextual fear conditioning (Weeber et al. 2000). Inhibitors of PKC also block LTP (MaUnow et al. 1989 Reyman et al. 1988). 

Bourtchuladze R, Abel T, Berman N, Gordon R, Lapidus K, Kandel ER (1998) Different training procedures recruit either one or two critical periods for contextual memory consolidation, each of which requires protein synthesis and PKA. Learn Mem 5 365-374 Brambilla R, Gnesutta N, Minichiello L, White G, Roylance AJ, Herron GE, Ramsey M, Wolfer DP, Cestari V, Rossi-Arnaud C, Grant SG, Chapman PE, Lipp HP, Sturani E, Klein R (1997) A role for the Ras signalling pathway in synaptic transmission and long-term memory. Nature 390 281-286... 

Impey S, Smith DM, Obrietan K, Donahue R, Wade C, Storm DR (1998) Stimulation of cAMP response element (CRE)-mediated transcription during contextual learning. Nat Neurosci 1 595-601... 

Several lines of evidence support the neurotrophic hypothesis. Animal and human studies indicate that stress and pain are associated with a drop in BDNF levels and that this loss of neurotrophic support contributes to atrophic structural changes in the hippocampus and perhaps other areas such as the medial frontal cortex and anterior cingulate. The hippocampus is known to be important both in contextual memory and regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Likewise, the anterior cingulate plays a role in the integration of emotional stimuli and attention functions, whereas the medial orbital frontal cortex is also thought to play a role in memory, learning, and emotion. 

Corcoran, K. A., Lu, Y., Turner, R. S. and Maren, S. (2002) Overexpression of hAPP-swe impairs rewarded alternation and contextual fear conditioning in a transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer s disease. Learn Mem 9, 243-252. 

In addition to their peripheral functions, including presynaptic facilitation of noradrenaline release, p-adrenoceptors play a role in regulating numerous functions of the central nervous system, including sympathetic tone, learning and memory, mood, and food intake. Mice lacking dopamine p-hydroxylase or p-adrenoceptor subtypes were used to study the involvement in memory functions. Noradrenaline acting at p, -receptors was found to be essential for retrieval of contextual and spatial memory, but it was not necessary for retrieval of emotional memories (Murchison... 

Roberts AJ, Krucker T, Levy CL, Slanina KA, Sutcliffe JG, Hedlund PB. Mice lacking 5-HT7 receptors show specific impairments in contextual learning. Eur J Neurosci 2004 19 1913-1922. 

Whether they realize it or not, Leroy and Veronica have just embarked on an unforgettable process in which they will learn valuable life lessons through hands-on experience, lessons pertaining to one of the most basic and necessary substances in the human experience— water. They will learn about the unique properties of water, how water is used, the chemistry of water, and how water use regulations affect not only the environment but also virtually every aspect of every person s life, in the home, in the workplace, and in society in general. In short, Leroy and Veronica are about to experience contextual teaching and learning (CTL) at its best. 

In contextual classes, students are more willing to accept responsibility for their own learning. 

Harwell, S. and W. E. Blank (2001) Promising Practices for Contextual Learning. Waco, TX CORD. 

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