Week 7: What is learning and how can learning be best effectuated by a teacher/trainer?
Learning is a process of interactions between learners and instructors, which could be effected by many factors. For example, when I was a child, I like my geography teacher very much, because she looked beautiful and always smiled to me, for which I liked learning geography and my score was excellent.
Learning can be effected by learners and instructors. When learners perform passion and interests, they are willing to spend time and energy on what they are learning, their positive activities would facilitate the process of learning. By contrast, when learners consider what they are learning as boring and meaningless, they would be so passive that their attitude would impede the process of learning. As for instructors, it makes sense, too. Good instructors would understand their students, they would try their best to learn their students’ experiences and knowledge frameworks, by which they could make resultful lesson plan for their students. So learning would be effectuated in this way. Otherwise, when instructor don’t behavior appropriately, learning could be impeded, for example, a teacher who likes scolding his students, must be impatient in the learning process, his students would be afraid to make mistake, which would lead to diffidence. Then learning can not be effectuated.
In my point of view, learners’ action should be more positive compare with instructors. As learner is the main body of the learning, teacher plays an assist role. So teachers should motivate and encourage their students, make them positive in learning process, by which learning can be best effectuated.
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.
Week 7 Response
Hi Winnie:
One thing I remember learning in undergrad school is that we needed to make sure that our students didn't really like us, and that would ensure that they would slightly fear us and pay closer attention in class. Since, I have learned that it is okay to have the students like us, like you did your geography teacher. In fact, I think I can be far more motivating when a student enjoys being in my classroom than by trying to motivate through fear.
I think you made a good point that learning can be effectuated by both learners and instructors. I think that it is the job of the instructor, however, to make sure that the lessons are motivating to students in the first place. When a teachers figures out what is important to her students and then uses that knowledge to inspire passion in the classroom, then those life-changing concepts can be acquired.
You have such a deep understanding of what it takes to be a good teacher, and it's always interesting when I read your blog that a non-teacher can have such insight. Keep up the good work! You are going to do great in your chosen field!
learner motivation