My Learning Beliefs and Assumptions
What do I think about learning? For me, that question is like asking, “What do you think about air?” I myself live and breathe learning. I love to do it and I enjoy helping others do it. It is also what I have spent many years studying and have developed many beliefs and assumptions related to it. For this paper, I would like to highlight three. First, I strongly believe that learning is social. Second, I am interested in the insights related to learning coming from current research on the frontal brain. Lastly, it important to me that learning is meaningful and relevant.
How effective would learning in a vacuum be? In my opinion… not very. It has been interesting to observe the recent development of online learning instruction. Taking coursework online is much more convenient as it can be done from anywhere without having to attend a face-to-face class. However, the research supports that social interaction makes this type of learning much more effective. Our learning environments and communities allow us to process our learning through contribution. These communities can be our friends, coworkers, classmates, family or they can be virtual communities. What is important is that there is a connection and communication within the learning process. Being part of a community builds the skills of engagement, collaboration, reflection, and networking. These are more advanced learning skills that are being expected of learners in today’s world.
This is an exciting time to be alive! The research that is being done on the advanced functions of the brain is fascinating. The brain is the latest frontier being explored. Recent discoveries are giving light to the role of the frontal lobe in higher- level thinking. I am so amazed and curious to learn more about this. One of these functions of the frontal lobe is is self-regulation. I think this speaks to why some students seem to grasp onto the learning process more quickly than other students. Learning more about the role of the frontal lobe can help us in creating better instructional design to support more students in developing these skills. It used to be believed that some students just did not want to learn, however, research is showing us how we can design instruction that makes it easier and more interesting to learn.
Learning needs to be meaningful to the learner. I think that the learner deserves to see a value in what he/she is learning. In our human past, learning was more related to survival – we needed to learn to stay alive. Today, we are bombarded with over abundant information and learning opportunities from which we need to choose. Goals play an important role in connecting learning to our internal desires. Engaging the learner in his/her own learning process is the most critical part of teaching. We must not only offer information but also be able to connect the benefit of learning directly to the student. I feel that in creating this type of learning experience- true learning takes place. For me, true learning is when someone’s actions, cognitions, and choices change. When people can learn to contribute to their community – then a deep level of learning has taken place. Instruction should not just be endless information – it should be able to answer the question, “why should I learn this?”
My ideas of learning are more focused on current higher-level thinking processes. I look at learning through a student’s and instructor’s perspective. I am interested in gaining skills to create learning experiences that can make learning deeper and more meaningful. Online learning is a hot topic, which has highlighted the importance of social learning theories in creating a social learning network. Current research on the frontal lobe is providing us with more and more information about developing higher level thinking skills in all students. And as we are given more and more opportunities to learn – meaning and relevancy help us to choose what we really want to learn. Although my ideas about learning have been influenced by my own learning experiences– I believe that they reflect some of the most current theories and assumptions that are research-supported today.