Week 10: What is learning? How can it be best effectuated by the teacher?

Jill Mason's picture

As I've been in an adult learning class this week, I've realized that the definition of learning varies depending on the age-level of the students. Learning to a small child might be accumulating information, but the older a student gets, the more learning is a process that changes behavior or improves life for the learner.

A teacher can best effectuate learning by keeping in mind the motivation of the learners. As students get older, their motivations to learn change. A young child might be motivated because they want to learn how to read their video game instructions, or because they want to please their teacher and parents. An adolescent might be motivated by the priviledges their parents give them for good grades or by seeing application to their adult life. An adult might be motivated by improvement in the quality of their life or by the ability to do the things they want to do.

Groups:
Submitted by Jill Mason on Wed, 07/15/2009 - 10:24pm
PaulCobb's picture

Motivation

Submitted by PaulCobb (not verified) on Thu, 07/16/2009 - 10:31am.
That is a good point about motivation. The trick is to find the motivation for each individual student. That can be tricky. This is why a machine can't do our job. we have to be able to build a relationship with each student so that we can understand the way they learn and the motivation they have to learn.
Carlee Christensen's picture

Agree

Submitted by Carlee Christensen on Thu, 07/16/2009 - 5:53pm.

I agree it is so important to keep age in mind.  My daughter who is almost four, is curious and want to learn about EVERYTHING, the middle school students I teach have lost some of that curiosity, and it is harder to motivate them.  I agree that you always need to keep your 'audience' in mind when you are teaching.  Good insight.

Tom Johnson's picture

Well Said

Submitted by Tom Johnson (not verified) on Fri, 07/17/2009 - 12:54am.
Jill, Well said. I've had many Ah-hah's like that this week as well during the Adult Ed. Class. I also agree that motivation for adult learners is usually motivated by quality of life and such, yet some of the adult learners that I work with, when required to learn for organizational purposes act much more like adolescents and children with their motivations! :-) Anyway, I've enjoyed hanging out with you this week in Adult Ed. It's been fun to have the opportunity to be in a live class and interact so closely with the cohort members. Though some, I can gladly say that I won't have to interact with them anymore. ;-) Later, Tom
Jill Mason's picture

HA!

Submitted by Jill Mason on Mon, 07/20/2009 - 2:11pm.
Just wanted to say.. I hear you my brothah!
 
Thanks a lot for sharing in Adult Ed this week. It's bee enlightening!
 
Jill
Ting Song's picture

Reply

Submitted by Ting Song on Fri, 07/17/2009 - 2:20pm.

Hi Jill,

I like your point. I mean we should not use the same method in teaching with defferent students. People of different ages have different abilities, interests, experiences and knowledge structures. They understand all kinds of concepts variously so that before teaching, we teachers should learn what our students characteristics, by which we could decide which method would work on them well. For me, I would learn something hard as long as it helps me to become a good teacher.

Brian Allred's picture

One characteristic I have

Submitted by Brian Allred on Fri, 07/17/2009 - 9:27pm.

One characteristic I have always admired in great teachers is there ability to motivate students.  It takes a real awareness and knack, especially with such diversity among students.

Disclaimer

Any opinions expressed here, except as specifically noted, are those of the individual authors or commenters and do not necessarily represent the views or policies of the Department of Instructional Technology and Learning Sciences, the Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services, or Utah State University.