What is learning? Meaningful learning taks place with the help of concept mapping or advance organizers. When one form of knowledge is applied to something seemingly unrelated, then application has more of a chance to blossom. Example: I know how to play Ping Pong. I do not know how to play Tennis. Some of the rules that apply to ping pong MAY apply to tennis. When I can compare one set of knowledge to another then rote learning finds its proper place in the garbage can.
How can learning be best effectuated by a teacher/trainer? When it comes to learning gospel principles, a specific principle or doctrine is never fully taught in one place. Example: Nephi talks about the importance of obedience in the early chapters of 1 Nephi. In 2 Nephi 2 he expounds on the principle of obedience by teaching about agency. Both can be looked at as seperate principles but by placing them in context to eachother, I can gain meaningful learning about obedience as I learn to exercise I agency more wisely. (By the way, Elder Packer once taught that there is no such thing as "free agency." So people of the Church... STOP USING THAT EXPRESSION!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I agree with you about the definition of Meaningful Learning. The one thing I would add is that meaningful learning isn't just a connection to some unrelated topic,it incorporates prior knowledge of the learner in a new avenue. we use that as gospel teachers all the time with object lessons.
ReplyDeleteI liked your definition of meaningful learning. It helped me to understand what it is. Your example of ping pong vs tennis and how alike they are yet different points out how concept mapping works.
ReplyDeleteJust for the record, I think ping pong (PP) is harder. While the subjects are dissimilar, the principles behind them may be the same. PP and tennis are both won by hitting a ball over a low net in a manner that will make it difficult for the opponent to hit it back but without going beyond the boundaries of the playing field, thus earning points towards a win. A student of PP may want to learn tennis and can take the knowledge of hitting the ball over the net, making the hit difficult to return by the opponent, and staying within the boundaries painted on the court, etc.
ReplyDeleteThe new player will still have to learn that the serve is different, the mentioned boundaries are actually larger, tennis requires more physical effort through extended movement, and so on.
The teacher/trainer needs to ask the learner to discuss the similarities and differences, or even prepare an advanced organizer that illustrates them, so the student is fully aware of how the two games compare. He/she then needs to practice the particulars of tennis so as to be prepared for the new sport.