what is learning

   What is learning?  Acquiring new information or skills but through activity and a context.  The heart of situated cognition is that the learner readily applies knowledge at it is acquired:  he or she learns by doing.  I agree that school is too often boring, too easy, and unapplicable to life because the kids are simply fed information that has nothing to do with anything.   Example: in Spanish I could certainly give my students worksheets and have them translate sentences but after one sentence of Mario ________ (ir) al Mexico the kids want to pull their hair out, or mine as the case may be.

     What is learning?    Acquiring knowledge and skills.    I understand and agree with people exchanging stories as a basis for learning from each other, and using actual situations as a base for learning,  but how on earth does this take place in public education?  I would love it but cannot find the jumping-off point for accomplishing it.      Learning does take place and is meaningful when it is part of a real situation, when current knowledge does not fill a need and so  needs to be updated.  Learning is communicating with other learners and teachers.  For example, in English, students will be required to write a letter to an editor about something they've read in the paper (why and what we are reading still needs to be established, mind you).   Of course, such a letter needs to communicate an idea, have correct grammar, etc.  thus creating a real-life scenario.Click here to read more »

      Learning is acquiring a new skill or knowledge.  As we read this week, the learning is easier when the motivation is right.  I am currently working on losing weight,  If this does not sound like learning to you, give it a shot:  there is a lot of learning!  Anyway, from June through September I was in a weight loss contest as well as being a member of Weight Watchers.  Each competitor put up $10, with a total of 11 members, so $110 bucks.  I am not sure why but I fixated on that prize and I did not let go!  Well, okay, a couple of times I was less than disciplined but for the most part I was determined and I followed my Weight Watchers plan. I was so motivated by that prize! Plus, the weekly accomplishments kept me going in the right direction; they served as reinforcement along the way, keeping me going.  You can guess who won the money,  Oh yeah, it was me!       And I was so happy!Click here to read more »

    What is learning?    Learning is acquiring a new skill, knowledge, or information.  We read about meaningful learning which essentially means activating prior knowledge, although it encompasses more.    A learner who can apply prior knowledge or skill to a new concept or task is able to learn the new more quickly, and with stronger attachment, or interest.   For example, one of the major reading strategies is to compare text to self (the learner): one of my favorites.   This strategy requires the learner to compare his or her personal experiences or knowledge to whatever he/she is reading.  This creates a personal connection to the text helping the learner first, know what the text is about, and second, have an emotional connection to it.  Even if the connection is negative, the learner will remember the text.    Which leads me to say: is learning simply connecting to and remembering information? Could be.

Learning is in the eye of the beholder, or is it the learner? Or, is it the teacher? These are the questions that any teacher worth their weight in pencils strives to know the answers to. But, to truly understand what learning is, it is important to know how people learn.

It is universally accepted that people learn three ways, visually, auditorially, kinesthetically, or a combination of the three. For example, a student may learn best by listening to a lecture, while reading along in a text, or they may learn a concept successfully by having to manipulate things with their hands, or performing a task.
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