Blog #12 - Final entry
Well, this is it. My final entry in the Learning Theories class for Summer of 2009. I thought it was best to wrap up this class with a short but sweet blog, so here goes.
Learning is when you, your child, your friend, any living thing, incorporates new knowledge which changes their life, no matter how minimal. The best type of learning is the type that influences the learner's life for the better, but unfortunately, a lot of learning hinders the learner's life. That's where teachers come in. Teachers are not just people in a classroom during the school day, helping people learn. Teachers are anybody, any living thing that helps facilitate learning.
For example, the general idea of learning is when a teacher writes problems on the board, and the student learns how to do them and then can do their own eventually. But, another type of learning can be done cross species. My dogs for example. (my favorite subjects lately besides my new grandbaby) We have a new boston terrier who came to live with us about 5 months ago. It is just now that I am able to read his facial expressions, and clue into his behaviors to interpret what he wants or needs or has done. For example, when I let him in from the backyard, and he runs all over the house really quick then comes back to me and sits and paws my foot, that tells me he just took a poop and feels much better! (I know, it's almost like he's saying "Woohoo! do I feel better!") In a sense, he facilitated my learning through time and experience.
Isn't that all that learning is? Time and experiences that help make learning happen? So, who says teachers are merely the instructors of academics. Don't we provide experiences for our students to learn, in all aspects of life? Social, personal, behavioral, and academic? That is why I found this class so helpful this summer. It enabled me to reflect on my teaching without the pressure of actually teaching, and also the reflection took place after I have had a few years experience to reflect on. Sure, I learned about the theorists and behaviorists in my undergraduate program, but without anything to reflect on, a lot of the information went unlearned. So, now that I have experiences, I look forward to creating more engaging activities for me and my students with a fresh eye and a new way to reach all my learners.
Thank you all and have a wonderful school year! (okay, not so short, but definitely sweet!)
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Submitted by Rhonda Adams on Mon, 07/27/2009 - 1:07pm
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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.
Rhonda was a great final
Rhonda this was a great final blog. I really enjoyed reading everything you had to say. I hope I can also take this class with me into my classroom next year and become a better teacher by giving my students new experiences and linking their learning to real life situations. Thanks for the comments!
I enjoyed reading your final
That was a wonderful final
That was a wonderful final blog. I have enjoyed your blogs throughout this class, but you really hit on some important points in this one. I especially love your doggie example. I've learned so much from this class but even more from reading the blog posts of everyone and all the different views everyone has on learning. I think your definition of learning is very well said.