Week 8: What is learning? How can learning be best effectuated by a teacher?
Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
Learning is the process of assimilating data and experiences into one's own memory, thereby reaching conclusions and changing behavior as a result of this assimilation. We often think of learning in terms of school, but really, school is supposed to help prepare students for life outside of school. The learning process does occur in school, but without assimilating data and experiences from school with data and experiences from one's own life, the process is only partially complete.
A teacher can best effectuate learning by helping students see how their knowledge gained at school pertains to those life-experiences outside of school. For example, a math teacher can apply counting by twos to how many hoops a popular basketball player shot in last night's game. A music teacher can apply rhythm counting to popular music. Using the music example, a student who has been learning rhythm and counting the beats per measure in class using music s/he would listen to outside of school, s/he won't be able to help but notice and count the rhythm and beats on the radio during the ride home. That knowledge will be assimilated.
Groups:
Submitted by Jill Mason on Thu, 06/25/2009 - 12:01am
Printer-friendly version
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.
Jill, I totally agree!
Jill, I totally agree! There are so many things teachers can relate topics to that the students see in everyday kid life. I think that sometimes teachers are afraid to relate topics to the basketball game, for example, because they are afraid that the students will take the class off course. But, if the teacher does this on a regular basis, it will become normal to them and they will be able to apply their own understanding to the topic because of the real life situation that was given.