The best way to learn
Are you the kind of person who reads the instructions before you start something new ? Or do you only search “help” when you are stuck?
How we learn has interested me for some time – I suppose ever since I was first introduced to Honey and Mumford’s Learning Styles . More recently we have been discussing how we learn with our students at Edinburgh Napier University.
In the workplace there has been a switch over recent years from “training” to “learning” and whilst I personally think that this can only be a good thing I wonder how many people really know or understand how they themselves learn best. When I found that I had a strong tendency to being an “activist” learner using Honey & Mumford’s theory a lot of issues about the way I worked fell into place ( this possibly had as much to do with the fact that I do prefer to learn by doing than the theory itself..)
Experienced trainers know to include a variety of activities in their programmes to incorporate the needs of as many of their students as possible. Many of us have been “taught” in the past by lecturers/teachers/trainers who did not. As an example I know that my understanding of economics is as much to do with the way my lecturer worked with us ( interesting/exciting/varied) as my interest in the subject ( hmmm – very little!).
OK – the activist learners reading this post may have already moved on so let me get to the point.
Here are my suggestions of how you might learn - my interpretation of Honey & Mumford and many other learning styles
- you have never done this before – but you will simply jump in and give it a go
- you have never done this before – but you have done something similar and using that experience will give it a go
- you have never done this before -but you have read about it and have some background knowledge so you will give it a go
- you have never done this before – so you will need to go and read about it and ask questions before you do
and to make sense of what happened ( throwing in a bit of Kolb’s theory here) add …
…the students I am currently working with are required to apply their learning in class in their workplace and write a reflective report on what happened. Having read many of those reports I strongly believe that the power of reflecting on your learning – no matter what your learning style is – cannot be underestimated.
Please share your views and experience on this. It would be a great help to me ( and my students will thank you too!)
Tags: learning styles
Jan 19, 2010
Jackie,
I agree that reflecting is SO important, but too often, in todays fast-paced world, we simply move on without reflection.
A fgew years ago, I ran a programme where delegates had to apply learning to a work-based situation and then share what they had done, why and how with colleagues in small groups. This worked SO well, especially as they were quizzed by their colleagues, which made them thing about things even more, AND provided additional ideas for them to try out.
As trainers, I think that we should do everything possible to help people to reflect. By the way, I am very much an activist/pragmatist but get so much value out of being made to reflect from time to time.
Jan 19, 2010
This is very true Jackie,
When I had the pleasure of attending one of your sessions, we covered certain things I had gone over before however, I felt I learnt a lot more as it was taught in an interesting way.
I can certainly remember sitting through many lectures that although i’m sure had lots of information in, bored the hell out of me, meaning I went away not remembering a thing! According to Honey & Mumford I think I would simply jump in and give it ago. I think that you learn more this way, but hey that is just my opinion.
Great Post.
Jan 19, 2010
Thank you for sharing, Sheridan. I believe that our students also benefit from reflecting as a group – to check that somebody else has that experience and to allow for further discussion, creating their own solutions and trying out other people’s ideas.
And I too benefit a great deal from being forced to ( ie forcing myself ) to reflect …
Jan 19, 2010
Hi Antonio – I remember indeed you were very willing to roll up your sleeves and give it a go! So now – and in line also with what Sheridan says – can you also take time to reflect on what you learn and really maximise every learning experience? Your blog might help you do that – mine certainly did for me!
Jan 19, 2010
Something I stumbled upon many years ago, was reading texts aloud to help retain information and grasp new concepts.
I think the theory is you use different parts of your brain for speech and reading, so you are utilising more of your brain – I’m not sure about the science of it, but in my experience I’ve found it useful.
I imagine most tasks are best taught and learned by being shown ‘how’, then getting on with the ‘doing’ of it?
Jan 19, 2010
That’s really interesting Neil because I had a chat with Bill Boyd – aka @literacyadviser – who is an educationalist and supports reading out loud for greater understanding! I had forgotten how effective that was for me too. Thanks for reminding me!
Jan 20, 2010
Hi Neil and Jackie,
Some interesting comments there about learning, understanding and memory. Reading aloud is not something new in schools but I believe we abandoned it a few years ago because it was often done indiscriminately – usually in full view and hearing of the whole class – which led to some kids being embarrassed or, even worse, publicly humiliated. I think it can be a very effective learning tool and all learners should be encouraged to do it, whether it is on a one-to-one basis, performing in front of a group or in the privacy of one’s own room. Using an audio or video recording for playback can make it even more effective.
Jan 20, 2010
Social comments and analytics for this post…
This post was mentioned on Twitter by jackiecameron1: The best way to learn? – some thoughts http://ow.ly/Y9NV Would love to hear what you think….
Jan 20, 2010
Thanks for sharing that Bill – I found myself doing it yesterday after Neil reminded me of the benefit!
Jan 25, 2010
Hi Jackie, have to fess up and say that when I can’t figure things out I go to the help menu or read the directions. I give it my best go first, but I’m finding with technology that every comma and period has to be in place before a program works as it should. Just wish it wasn’t so confining because it’s like a big “rule-box.”
Jan 25, 2010
I know what you mean Robyn…sometimes it seems logical – other times it feels like we have been left out of the full story and with that comes distraction from the original goal and all sorts of frustrations!