Merlin Carl Wittrock (January 3, 1931 – November 28, 2007) was an American educational psychologist.Mayer, Richard E. "Merlin C. Wittrock's enduring contributions to the science of learning." Educational Psychologist 45.1 (2010): 46-50. He received the E. L. Thorndike Award in 1987.
Early life He was born in Twin Falls, Idaho in 1931. He received a bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Missouri and his PhD from the University of Illinois."UCLA education professor influenced teacher training". Los Angeles Times, 8 December 2007.
Work
Generative theory of learning Wittrock is best known for his generative theory of learning. He first published this theory in 1974.Wittrock, Merlin C. "Learning as a generative process". Educational psychologist 11.2 (1974): 87-95. It is the parent of many current theories of academic motivation.Anderman, Eric M. "Reflections on Wittrock's generative model of learning: a motivation perspective." Educational Psychologist 45.1 (2010): 55-60.
Personal life Wittrock had three children with his wife, Nancy.Shaena Engle. "Obituary: Merlin C. Wittrock, 76, UCLA professor emeritus of education". UCLA Newsroom, 5 December 2007. He died of heart failure in November 2007 at the age of 76.
References