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.
I agree with everything you say. On the job training seems to be the quickest and best way to learn something. I remember when computers came into everyday use. I picked up a book, Windows for Dummies. I really thought that reading a book was going to give me some real training. I couldn't have been more wrong. I just struggle with applying this to his.tory
ReplyDeleteWhy is it that the what is easier than the how? I need to figure out a way to give as much time and attention (if not more) to the how. I have had so many successful lessons when my how was just as strongly planned as the what. I strongly agree with your statement about participation and experimentation being the key to learning that sticks. Book learning can only stretch so far. It's experience that ultimately become the master.
ReplyDeleteI really like the emphasis you put on thinking outside of the box when planning learning experiences. So many times we can plan lessons that are outside of the box that will really help our students have lasting learning. Hands-on learning and apprentice style learning can impact students a lot longer than lecture and book work. Thanks for your thought-provoking entry!
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of a student being able to find that he has a knack for something after he's been given an opporunity to do something out of the ordinary. As teachers, we should always be on the look-out for ways to expand the minds of the students.
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