What do we really mean when we use the word “learn”?
It is something we all do from the moment of birth, so most of us likely take this very complex process for granted.
How many of you have spent time trying to understand the meaning of learning, or how it occurs?
Although many of us have a general sense of what it means to learn, there are often many assumptions involved.
Teachers often assume that, because they are “teaching,”
students must be learning. Students assume that, because
they have read their text and memorized facts, they have learned something.
How do we know that the desired learning has happened ?
What are the roles of students and teachers in the learning process?
Are certain kinds of learning and thinking more valuable than others?
Are learners acquiring shallow learning, deep learning or profound learning?
What does sophisticated thinking look like and what are the developmental stages for getting there?
What kinds of skills and knowledge do employers desire in their prospective employees?
How do grades reflect a student’s thinking and learning?
What role does a good quality education play in modern society?
These are but a few questions to consider while reflecting on the purpose of a proper education.
For learners:
The modules a program for learners to make them a better learner could cover the following:
* Overcoming Procrastination and effective time management for better learning: Developing Good Study Habits
* Learning to read (with comprehension) then reading to learn
* Improving your retention and recall (memorisation) skills
* Getting Sleep to work for you: the power of the sub-conscious mind
* Creating your own info-graphics for better learning
* Examinations: Preparing for them and achieving high grades/marks
For teachers:
Teachers have an important role in developing an interest and desire to learn and they could encourage their learners to:
* Use the Internet and resources available through it to become a better learner
* Learning with Social Media
* Understanding concepts with mind-maps
* Using webquests for formulating good questions and finding answers
* Putting it all together: How to be able to learn anything?
For parents:
Parents need to address the following issues:
* Why are you under-performing? Understanding the Study and Exams Game
* First things first: profiling yourself as a learner: strengths and weaknesses
* Setting up your study environment, organising your study materials and learning tools.
* Getting motivated: from extrinsic motivation to intrinsic motivation
For knowledge workers:
Once in the workplace, it is still a journey of continuous learning:
* Take charge of your learning: Developing a Personalised learning Plan
* Setting SMART Goals
* Becoming a self-directed learner
* Reflecting upon one’s learning: Appreciating different strategies for different subjects.
* Kemba Kaizen and Anuvrat: Cumulative improvement in small achievable steps
Book of the week:
This 24 page free booklet is a great resource for becoming a better learner : http://www.campaign-for-learning.org.uk/cfl/assets/documents/OtherDocuments/Becoming%20a%20better%20learner.pdf
Video of the week:
10 Ways to Be a Better Learner (Jeff Cobb)
“In this talk, Jeff Cobb explores 10 Ways to Be a Better Learner, which was inspired by his work on the Mission to Learn blog, and consulting experience. Many of us simply weren’t all that well prepared by traditional schooling to handle the massive flow of information and the continual need for upgrading our knowledge and skills that are demanded by the “learning economy” in which we now live.
Website of the week:
This website has links to 15 resources to make one a better self-learner: http://edudemic.com/2012/06/15-ways-to-become-a-better-self-learner/
Resource of the week: The resource this week is. Nano-learning object. An infographic.
Infographics are a great way of putting together a lot of data or facts on a single page, slide or poster. Here is one summarising the key skills in a 21st Century learner: http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2012/11/a-must-have-poster-about-21st-century.html
App of the week:
Evernote (iPhone and Android — free): Ever wanted to note something down and not had access to a paper and pen? Your phone probably already has an inbuilt note-taking function, but Evernote provides so much more. You can attach images and audio to your notes, add your location and search through your notes for keywords at the click of a button (including text that appears in images). This means you can take photos of class handouts, search for keywords in the handout image, write your own summaries, carry your notes on your phone for viewing at any time and sync them with your computer — the possibilities are endless.
Quotes:
“There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure.” : Colin Powell
” Learning should be a joy and full of excitement. It is life’s greatest adventure; it is an illustrated excursion into the minds of the noble and the learned.” : Taylor Caldwell
