Learning

What is it?

Learning is inferred from a person's actions, responses, ways of thinking, ideas and interactions. Learning can be progressive (positive) or regressive (negative). It is the result of some form of interaction that causes a change in the way someone functions.

"A relatively permanent change in the capacity for behavior" - Shea, et al, 1995, p 317)
"An instance of biological adaptation," - Piaget
"Growth involves learning from experiences in ways that facilitate subsequent transfer," (Bransford, et al., 1979)
"Research has demonstrated a number of learning-related morphological changes in the central nervous system," (Rose, 1997, p 144)
"....the learning process is not readily observable & therefore must be inferred from repeated observations of performance, and learning occurs as a function of practice & experience." (Rose, 1997, p 144-5)

"........As Matthew Flinders once observed to him, "To question everything is important, for knowledge is power & ignorance is enslavement. When we accept without questioning, we forfeit the power to control our own lives," (Courtenay, B., 2002, p 160).

"Billy could see that the story of Trim wasn't going to be a simple matter of storytelling. Ryan didn't intend to be a passive participant. He was happy with this, we learn better from discussion than simply from listening," (Courtenay, B., 2002, p 156).

LEARNING.......... (Schmidt, 1991):

results from practice or experience

is not directly observable

changes are inferred from performance changes

involves a set of processes in the central nervous system

produces an acquired capability for skilled performance

changes are relatively permanent (they are not transitory)

"Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.” – William Butler Yeats

Links:

Study Strategies
Memory Principles
Performance Changes Across Stages of Learning
Learning Quotes

Web Links:

Multiple Intelligence
Experiential Learning
TGFU
Research on TGfU

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