How do we learn?

If you needed to learn something new, how would you do it? Tonight I asked my three- year-old son that question. He said, "I would watch you mommy!" When I asked my eight-year-old, he responded, "I would practice, practice, practice."

Learning is an amazing phenomenon. How we learn and engage in new knowledge is fascinating and complex. I am far from an expert. Yet over the next four weeks, I will deepen my understanding through a class on learning theory. 

Just like my two sons, no two people learn exactly the same way.  That is why there are multiple learning theories. 

Show me how

Modeling or demonstrating is an effective way to transfer knowledge. A learner can observe the process and learn from others. This is an important part of the social learning theory. We learn from one another. The 21st century has expanded the opportunities of modeling for society. No longer do we need to learn only from those in our day-to-day world. Through websites and apps such as YouTube and Khan Academy people can learn from some of the best and brightest minds in the world.   

Practice, practice, practice.  

Learning from direct experience is another aspect of social learning theory. As people make choices they are given input that they may use to direct their path the next time. If a person makes a decision, and it has a positive outcome, he or she will learn from that experience. These outcomes are reinforcements that shape learning. In education, students can learn through practicing skills and receiving feedback. Using educational games on websites, such as Xtra Math for multiplication facts or Quizlet for vocabulary words, can be particularly effective. 

Being connected

Connecting with others facilitates learning. There is a difference between reading about a topic in isolation and reading and discussing it with colleagues.  As people process their learning with others, they can solidify new knowledge and make connections to other ideas. The theory of connectivism focuses on how learning is derived in part from connections. Social media has allowed connections beyond face-to-face encounters. People can connect through a variety of topics or ideas and share their own. 

Motivation Matters

I will never forget my first F on a math test. I was in 5th grade, and in that moment, I knew that I hated math. (Growth mindset was not a hot topic in the 80's.) This negativity followed me throughout the rest of my education. I love problem-solving, probability, and strategy yet I never connected that back to math. Therefore, I never learned mathematical strategy. The mental block I created, followed me. So much of learning is mindset. If a person is motivated, then they will find a way to learn. This is seen in many computer and video games. When my son loses in a computer game, he doesn't give up. He tries again and again. He is motivated to learn how to win. Motivation impacts learning in both positive and negative ways.