What is learning: Learning is transferring rote (new) learning into our cognitive structure. What we learn depends on our mental state, what we know, and our observation strategies. Young children learn quickly by observation. New knowledge that is incorporated depends on our effort, quantity, and quality of cognitive structure. I agree with the author that some of it depends on our effort to learn the new material.
How can learning be best effectuated by a teachers: The article by Novak mentioned using advanced organizers such as the knowledge Vee and concept maps. Teachers need to use such tools to help students avoid learning faulty information. I liked the statement Novak made on page 554, that "hands on is not enough...need minds on". Three pages later Novak goes on to say that only the learner can choose to learn meaningfully, to consciously and deliberately reconstruct his/her framework(p. 557).
Near the end of the Novak article he states that a good teacher does not remediate faulty misconceptions. He describes his course for remediation:
1. Progressive differentiations
2. Subsumption - new info builds on old
3. Superordinate - several cpncepts recognize subconcepts
4. Integrative reconciliation - similiar or differences of knowledge
One thing I know for sure is that it is very hard to unlearn faulty information and relearn the correct information. I have seen this many times with bad keyboarding techniques. Generally these students are not willing to give up the old to learn a better way. It is best if we can help them learn correct information from the start.
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Toni
ReplyDeleteYou have done an excellent job applying this weeks topic of meaningful learning. By reading your blog I better able to understand what the author was talking about.
You made a good point about unlearning incorrect information. I remember when I was in school our band teacher use to say "practice does not make perfect." At the time my understanding was that if you learn it wrong it will be harder to learn it correctly. After the reading this week I have a better understanding of what he was getting at.