Week 15- Reflection

What is learning?

At the beginning of this semester, I would have thought this question could be answered with a couple of well-crafted sentences. Now, I don’t think so. Learning is not only remembering facts and figures, it’s being able to apply those facts to real life and to different situations. I think that learning is unique to each individual. Sometimes I see people confusing learning with being a good memorizer. I know a student that is particularly good at memorizing. People say he is so smart. Yet, I question what good that knowledge does him because he doesn’t apply it to making sound choices or solving problems. Part of learning is being able to analyze the situation and draw on the facts and figures to solve a problem or to understand a concept. Learning is also the sum of each student’s experiences. Being able to relate to the subject helps students internalize it and not have to agonize over being able to pull out that information later when needed. It becomes a part of their thinking process. Finally, learning is continuous and progressive. That’s good since we will be learning for the rest of our lives.

How can learning be best effectuated by a teacher/ trainer?

After studying the various teaching methodologies, I really have come to believe that a teacher needs to use variety in his/ her approach. Some students will respond to repetition in certain cases and stories in another. The key is to find what clicks when teaching a combination of student and subjects. Creating an opportunity for “ah-ha” moments should be the goal. I also think that changing up the approach keeps the subject fresh for the teacher. The quality of teaching has to decrease if the teacher is bored. At work, the trainers periodically change the methods they use for that very reason. It’s difficult to teach with enthusiasm when you’ve done the same exact thing over and over.

After reflecting over this semester, I can see the value of using each theory in different situations. For example, I wouldn’t know my multiplication tables as well if not for the repetition and rewards used from Skinner’s theory.  Knowing that the subject has to fit with a student’s schema eliminates unnecessary misunderstanding and confusion. The use of stories helped me to learn risk evaluation at work. By using stories you can teach the underlying principle in a way that can be adapted to new and slightly different situations. It helps illustrate the “moral”. I really have learned the importance of hands on teaching. There are several ways you can present a concept but challenging the students to apply it as soon as possible will cement the idea in their minds. A teacher that shows students the relevance of what is taught will be successful in their teaching.

In summary, a knowledgeable teacher can evaluate which approach would be best to help the student learn the subject at hand.

Week 14- Social Constructivism

What is learning?

Learning is interacting and increasing understanding based on that interaction. Learning is also stretching to attempt that which you think is beyond your capability. You've heard the saying that goes something like... if you reach for the stars and make it to the mountaintops, it's higher than you would have gotten if you reached for the mountaintops. (I'm sure someone said it better than that but you get the idea.)

How can learning be best effectuated by a teacher/trainer?

There aren't too many people that attempt to stretch on their own. Being unfamiliar with a subject means you are not sure what is and is not possible. A teacher can challenge students and set a high expectation while supporting and assisting in making that achievement possible. A teacher can also be there as a rudder to give direction while making sure you have freedom to discover and be inventive.

Week 13- Bruner

What is learning?

Learning is being able to tie new concepts to prior experiences and concrete images. Starting at the basic, physical principle and spiraling up allows a student to think in the abstract while connecting it to the simplest form. Learning is also discovering and having the desire to discover. A student's drive will lead him/her to learn, explore and retain more, being able to continue to build their knowledge.

How can learning be best effectuated by a teacher/trainer?

A teacher has to first have a solid understanding of the concept. (They don't need to know everything about everything, but they cannot be tentative.) Then they can set up a plan to lead the student down the path of discovery. A teacher can also give students the opportunity to be independent in learning. There are many sources of information that can be utilized by the student. Helping them discover their own autonomy becomes more than a lesson in science class. It becomes a life lesson as well.

Week 12- Situated Cognition

What is learning?

Learning is knowing, understanding and then applying. Being able to use the information in real life solidifies the learning. How many times have you heard from high school students, "I'll never use this again in my life!" Sometimes that is true, but they may be able to use the concept in the future if we help them see how they can. Learning something by doing makes that skill or thought process become a tool that they can use later. 

How can learning be best effectuated by a teacher/ trainer?

Drawing real-life applications to the information taught is an obvious lesson from this week. A teacher can think "out of the box" for interesting and engaging ways to allow the students to interact and experiment. It becomes easy to emphasize the "know what" instead of  the "know how", especially when it comes to assessment and testing. However, a student might find he has a real talent or interest in a particular subject if he is allowed to dig in and actually participate and experiment in that subject. I think that should be the goal.

Week 11- Case-based Learning

What is learning?

I like Schank's idea of natural learning. It is more fun because it involves discovery and learning the things you want to learn, when you want to learn them, as a child does. 

Learning is also remembering and being interested in adapting new scenarios to existing experience and being able to modify your beliefs when necessary. This process of adaptation builds your experience base and contributes to further learning. 

How can learning be best effectuated by a teacher/ trainer?

I love stories! Who doesn't?

If a teacher had a brain like a computer program , they could come up with just the right story at just the right time to illustrate the concept they are teaching. I really enjoyed reading about the interactive video programs that have been developed and especially think the animal creation program would be so interesting and fun to kids. (to me ,too!)

A teacher can be prepared with several stories in mind that relate to the concept that is being taught. They need to be flexible on the direction the class takes which may not be what they were anticipating. Another thing they can do is be patient and wait until the students are ready to hear or present an activity that prepares them to hear the story. 

Week 9- Motivation

What is learning?

Learning is action. When a student doesn't understand something they have two choices, find help or keep being confused. I know the feeling of not wanting to ask a question, especially in a large group. The more experience we have, the more we know that we certainly are capable of understanding, it's finding that explanation that will "click" with us and the light will then come on.

How can learning be best effectuated by a teacher/trainer?

A teacher needs to use a variety of techniques to help students learn. Students will have different goal orientations and different comfort levels of participation and engagement.  A teacher's job is to attempt to motivate each student. Some students like games and competition, others do not. While there are reasons to avoid help seeking, there are some students that do ask questions. I guess my point is, you have to deal with all kinds of personalities, comfort levels, backgrounds and goal orientations. Teachers need to make it comfortable for all types of student to seek help. Above all, the teacher needs to be accessible. Some students will be more comfortable one on one and others just need an avenue to seek help without conflicting with their own goal orientation.

Week 8- Human Development

What is learning?

This week I am seeing learning as a series of transitions. These stages of development become more complex until abstract thinking can occur. You must be able to not only retain information to learn but you also need to adjust your point of view at times. When you learn new concepts, you may find that an altered perspective makes more sense.  You have to be able to question your own assumptions in order to fully integrate new ideas. I also like the idea of critical reflection in getting adults to think for themselves. This kind of "on purpose" thinking and evaluating empowers learners to change and adjust.

How can learning be best effectuated by a teacher/trainer?

I think a teacher can provide opportunities for a student to see a concept from a different perspective. The first step of that would require an awareness of what the different perspectives might be. The teacher then guides the students down the path of thinking allowing for individual interpretation on the part of the student. This would apply to philosophical subjects and concepts, not necessarily math or brain surgery! 

Week 6- Schema Theory

What is learning?

Learning is an expanding set of connections held together and supported by a framework of knowledge and experience. Although each student has a unique set of expectations and perspectives, there are also commonalities between people. When communicating thoughts and ideas, it is possible to be misunderstood when someone has a different background or lacks the same experience as the speaker. I'm sure you have all had a funny misunderstanding like this before. The Fifth Dimension song "Age of Aquarius" has been mis-heard as the "Age of Asparagus". To an elementary school student that doesn't know what "aquarius" is or means, asparagus would make more sense! 

How can learning be best effectuated by a teacher/ trainer?

A teacher needs to attempt to anticipate areas that could be misunderstood or confusing. When we know the subject inside and out, it is easy to forget that others may struggle at first. We must remember that what we are teaching wasn't always second-nature for us.  I had a college statistics class from a teacher whose first language was Chinese. When a question was asked, he was not able to re-phrase or elaborate. He only repeated the sentence that had confused the student and raised his arms like, "What is there not to get?" (That was a long semester due to the language barrier.) Being aware and available to clear up confusion or elaborate is an essential part of teaching.

Week 5- CIP/ Meaningful Learning

What is Learning?

My definition of learning is growing each week. This week I have been thinking about how learning is starting with a foundation and then building upon it. It's so important to connect new information to something concrete and meaningful. If the student does not see the value or future use, they will not retain the knowledge. There will be no need to. If they can connect new knowledge to something important to them or a previous experience, it will be worth remembering. They will more likely learn to know instead of learn to pass a test or because they are expected to. I think learning is making attachments. By connecting to your solid foundation (your previous knowledge) you build a higher plane from which to keep learning.

An example of this is in math, algebra in particular. Each concept you learn has to be well understood for the next concept to make sense. You really can't move on until you are solid with the previous information.

How can learning be best effectuated by a teacher/ trainer?

A teacher can help the student make those strong connections to their foundation. I have learned a lot about concept maps this week. This has been new to me. They are useful for many things but I especially see their use in detecting incorrect or incomplete knowledge. A teacher can modify or enhance lesson plans based on information learned from the concept map. A small amount of time spent in correcting a misconception would be invaluable as a student continues to learn. 

In the math example, if a student truly didn't understand the concept of a variable, they would either be lost very quickly or just churning out answers based on memorization of the formulas. You could end up with a student that understood and a student that didn't understand a concept getting the same score on a test, but which one really learned and is prepared to continue building?

Week 3- Functional Behavior Analysis

What is learning?

Learning is about overcoming obstacles. These obstacles can be physical such as a learning disability or hearing impairment. They can also be non-physical such as having feelings of fear that cause you to procrastinate or just being overwhelmed. The point is, everyone has obstacles to overcome. One key is to break down a project or task into smaller, more manageable pieces. You enjoy a sense of accomplishment and reinforcement each time you complete a piece of the project. As you make it a habit to overcome your obstacles, your learning and confidence increase.

How can learning be best effectuated by a teacher/trainer?

One of the "end goals" is for a student to be able to work independently and confidently while also being able to interact and contribute to the ideas of other students. This creates synergy in a classroom. A teacher can help students by giving them an example of how to break down projects into manageable pieces. The student will eventually be able to do this for himself. A few experiences of being successful will go a long way to keeping a student motivated. Feedback is also vitally important. It lets the student know they are on the right track, or helps them make small corrections before they go too far astray. 

Week 2- Behaviorism

What is learning?

This week I am recognizing the difference between learning and being trained. Learning is initiated by the individual learner with a goal or end result in mind. Learning is more enjoyable for the person than merely being trained. The learner can apply knowledge gained to multiple applications now and in the future. Learning can be a lifelong process while being trained has a limited scope and time period. Training seems geared more towards the agenda of the teacher.

How can learning be best effectuated by a teacher/trainer?

Learning will be most effective when the goals of the learner and the goals of the trainer match up. Clear communication and accessibility are needed to balance the requirements and standards of the teacher with the goals and direction of the learner.

What is learning? I think learning is not only acquiring knowledge, but also being able to use and apply that knowledge to solve different types of problems. This requires creativity and common sense.

How can learning be best effectuated by a teacher/trainer? I think three things a teacher can do to effectuate learning are:

1. guide- Since the teacher cannot make learning happen, the student has the most responsibility for this process. A teacher can direct and challenge the thought process of the student.

2. motivate- A teacher's excitement about a subject can influence the student to appreciate it more. This excitement can be displayed with something as simple as pointing out how the subject applies to the real world. (I almost changed my Bachelor's degree to Economics because of a motivating teacher!)

3. be a resource- A teacher will have a broader knowledge of the subject than the scope of any one particular class. Being willing to share that knowledge helps a student to think outside the box when necessary.

This is John and I "whale watching." We didn't see any whales, just a lot of dolphins!