Humanism Learning Theory

Each person's ability to understand learning is different. Some people read and understand quickly, some listen and understand quickly, and some are given instructions and understand quickly. There are very many learning models and methods, and each person has their own way of learning.

For an  educator, bearing the great responsibility of carrying out the task of enlightening the nation is not an  easy task. Therefore, the teaching process also requires good and thorough preparation to ensure that  the material or knowledge can be conveyed well.

Moreover, teaching is not an easy task that consists merely of giving material. There is a great obligation behind it, namely to enable students with different abilities to understand the same syllabus.

For that reason it needs to be understood that teaching is not merely delivering material; rather, teaching is how the teacher applies a systematic and psychological approach to their students so that they can understand it.

Only by understanding students can educators know how to treat them well so that knowledge can be passed on to students well. When discussing learning methods, this may be  common among teaching staff and teachers. But it can seem very strange to  parents and others.

In fact, whatever our profession is now, sooner or later everyone  will become a prospective parent and also needs to be educated about learning methods for their future children.

In this article we will discuss one of the learning method theories, namely humanism theory, which  can provide insight to prospective teachers, prospective hybrid teachers and even prospective parents.

 

 

 

Humanistic learning theory

Humanistic learning theory is a learning theory that aims to create things that are good for humanity and to enable people to develop self-awareness. Each person has a different learning ability, so teachers cannot use only one theory  when teaching students. There are many learning theories that can be adapted to students' personalities and abilities, including humanistic learning theory.

 

1. Humanistic Learning Theory According to Carl Ransom Rogers

According to Carl Ransom Rogers, Humanistic Learning Theory is a learning process that requires mutual respect and mutual understanding between students and teachers, without bias on either side, so that the learning process runs well. According to R. Rogers, learning must involve both the intellectual and emotional aspects of students. Therefore, learning motivation must be possessed by the individual learner. (Viandari, 2021)

Rogers distinguished two characteristics of learning, namely:

1. Meaningful learning and
2. Meaningless learning. Meaningful learning occurs when  the learning process involves both the thinking and emotional aspects of students, and meaningless learning occurs when  the learning process involves the thinking aspect but ignores the students' emotional aspect.

According to Rogers, learning has three important elements:

1. Learners are confronted with real-world problems for which they want to find solutions.
2. Once awareness of the problem has formed, an attitude towards the problem will also form. At this stage, attitudes are formed through a process of fact-finding, acceptance and empathy.
3. The existence of learning resources, both human and material, written or printed.
4. According to Rogers, the success of learning  lies in the contribution of the students to the awareness of their own abilities, because by nature humans have the ability to solve their own problems.

 

 

 

1. Humanistic learning theory According to Arthur Combs

According to Arthur Combs, humanistic learning theory is a learning theory that humanizes human beings. This learning is centred on the human personality. The theory also focuses on how education creates something productive by  increasing creativity and making use of the potential one has.

Arthur Combs also argued that many teachers wrongly assume that their students will learn if the teaching material is well organised. Teachers can also understand student behaviour if they understand how students behave in certain situations. Students who do not want to recognise their potential will miss out on the learning process.

The application of humanistic and social learning theory is as follows:

1. Formulating clear learning objectives.
2. Applying learning contracts to students
3. Encouraging students to think critically and participate actively in the learning process, in the sense that they can express their opinions
4. Presenting results to students and giving them opportunities to progress in completion.

 

1. Abraham Maslow's Humanistic Learning Theory

Abraham Maslow is known as the father of the humanistic school of thought. He argued that human behaviour is basically directed at fulfilling hierarchical needs. Maslow believed that humans strive to understand and accept themselves as well as possible. A very well-known theory is Maslow's hierarchy of needs. Maslow explained that humans are motivated to fulfil their needs in life (Andy Setiawan, ND). Maslow held that humans have a hierarchy of needs, ranging from the most basic physical needs to the highest needs, or aesthetic needs (Wasitohadi, 2012).

If a person is able to fulfil all of their lower-level needs, their motivation will be directed towards fulfilling the need for self-actualisation. Successful education is essentially the ability to convey meaning between educators and learners so that they can achieve the goal of becoming better and wiser people. The aim is for students to become aware of the need for character education. Educators help students explore, develop and apply their skills to maximise their specific potential, talents and tendencies. This kind of self-actualisation emerges on its own, but it is not the same for everyone. (Ibid, undated)

This perspective is closely related to Abraham Maslow's belief that certain basic needs must be met before needs at a higher level can be fulfilled. According to Maslow's hierarchy of needs, the fulfilment of human needs begins from the lowest level.

1) Physiological, 2) Safety, 3) Love and Belonging, 4) Esteem, 5) Self-Actualisation (Jhon W. Santrock, n.d.)

This means that the desire for self-actualisation is a person's tendency to  continually use all of their abilities and aspirations to become a better person. Even if the needs above are fulfilled, such as physiological needs, the need for safety, the need for love and belonging, including the need for gratitude, people will still be overcome by a feeling of dissatisfaction. This dissatisfaction comes from their deepest inner drive, because they feel they have qualities and potential  that have not yet been realised within themselves. Essentially, a person  is required to be honest about all the potential and qualities that exist within themselves.

 

1. Humanistic Learning Theory by Jürgen Habermas

According to Jürgen Habermas, learning occurs when there is interaction between individuals and their learning environment. The learning environment refers to the social and natural environment, because the two are connected. (Budinigsih, 2004 ). It can be said that humanism and social learning theory is a learning theory whose learning system is in line with human psychology.

Learning takes place through interaction between individuals and the natural environment around them and their social environment. Humanistic learning theory is more oriented towards the fields of philosophy, personality theory, psychology and psychotherapy. This learning theory talks more about the concept of learning to shape a person so that they can reach what they hope for in the future, and about the learning process in its ideal form.

 

 

 

According to Jürgen Habermas, there are three stages of learning. They are:

1. Technical Learning

Technical learning is understood as learning how to interact with the natural environment  properly and correctly. It is a technical course in which you learn the knowledge and skills  needed to interact successfully with the natural environment.

1. Practical Learning  

Practical Learning is learning how a person can interact with their social environment, that is, with the people around them. Learning activities emphasise harmonious interaction between  people. This practical learning is used in fields of knowledge such as sociology, psychology,  and anthropology.

1. Emancipatory Learning

Emancipatory Learning is a learning method for gaining a high level of understanding and awareness of social change and present-day cultural development. Therefore,  knowledge and creativity are essential to support  the cultural development of a society.

When a person understands and is aware of changes in conditions  and the development of their culture, they  are considered to have  reached the highest level of learning.

Through these stages of learning, it is hoped that students can become aware of themselves  and their social environment. The essence of humanistic learning theory is the acquisition of wisdom and insight in life.

In this way, students can become aware of themselves and their environment, as well as the social role they must play in their living environment, and ultimately it helps students so that the potential within them can be developed to the fullest. (Widya, 2018)

 

Advantages

Below are the benefits of humanistic learning theory that are useful for every individual.

1. lIncreasing individuals' interest in learning
2. lHelping to build character and change attitudes in a positive direction and towards conscience.
3. lHelping to increase creativity in everyone.
4. lFostering an intelligent and comprehensive way of thinking as well as a good attitude.
5. lWe can give  new and interesting experiences to everyone.
6. lNurturing individuals and supporting self-actualisation.

 

Disadvantages

However, this theory also has some weaknesses and may be less suitable when applied to some children.

1. lThis humanistic theory can give rise to individualistic behaviour.
2. lIf students are not serious about taking part in learning, the learning process can be considered a failure.
3. lThe teacher, as a moderator, plays a subordinate role.
4. lThis humanistic learning approach cannot be used as a practical learning method.
5. lThere are significant differences and gaps between school pupils and university students.

 

Application in Learning

In this theory the teacher acts as a facilitator, so the following steps will be carried out as a facilitator.

1. At the beginning of the meeting the teacher can motivate students so that they are willing to take part in learning.
2. The learning objectives are explained by the teacher, but if some students do not understand well, the teacher explains them again to make sure students truly understand the direction of the learning.
3. It is important for instructors and teachers to understand the nature and character of the students they teach so that they can adapt to the students' wishes.
4. Making materials easy to obtain through various creative media so that students do not get bored, e.g. educational books or modules and audiovisual equipment.
5. Building good communication with students so that the learning process can be managed.
6. Encouraging students to be more creative and  sensitive to themselves and their surroundings.
7. Providing a conducive learning atmosphere.
8. Carrying out activities that allow students to be active throughout the learning process.

So that teachers and prospective teachers can apply this humanistic learning theory well in practice, an understanding of other learning theories is also needed. Various learning methods can be carried out using  different approaches.

 

Application in Life

We can conclude that humanistic theory is a  learning approach theory that is more humane, or humanistic. Not only because other theories are impersonal, but because this theory allows for learning experiences that are relevant to the students involved.

Thus it is hoped that students who use this learning approach can achieve maximum results because they can enjoy the learning process well. The greatest achievement here is producing not only better academic results, but also better human beings.

From this point of view, the teacher's role may seem minimal, but in fact it is far greater. Guiding  and motivating students is also  not easy. It cannot be achieved merely by reading  a manual; it comes through experience in learning how to handle one's students.

Moreover, in the humanistic learning process, students are given greater responsibility for their own learning, which can affect their learning outcomes in the future. Therefore, good cooperation and balanced understanding between both parties are needed.

However, this humanistic theory is a theory formulated by humans, and it cannot always be applied evenly to all children because, in essence,  every person's abilities and behaviour differ. Likewise, other theories such as cognitive theory and  behaviourist theory are interrelated and complement each other.

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