I decided to start today be asking students to consider what we learned this week and the first thing it taught me was it is good to pause and reflect. Students were challenged to think of what they learned - if anything. Sure we did stuff in class but as they were immersed in the process connections to specific learning goals seem fleeting. Keeping a log of the learning occurring in class helps all of us to recognize that we are, indeed, learning - and perhaps learning more than we consciously realize. The style of teaching I am using fits well within the brain-based immersion theory of learning which contends "Traditional schooling, however, often inhibits learning by discouraging, ignoring, or punishing the brain’s natural learning processes." I am hopeful that students continue to engage in this growth mindset. The more they use metacognition to cement what they are "doing" to what the are "learning" the better they will be able to recognize their personal learning growth.
It seems many students believe that they are only learning when they have experienced something for the first time. In reality, learning become nuanced as you delve deeper into a particular subject. When my high school calculus teacher, Mr. Parling, told us "everyday you learn more and more about less and less" I was puzzled by what he was saying. As I grew older I realized he was referring to the process of learning that leads to breakthroughs. These processes are ones where small incremental gains, over time, lead to large conceptual understandings. It is remarkable to think of learning this way, because viewed through this lens we are truly learning everyday.
It seems many students believe that they are only learning when they have experienced something for the first time. In reality, learning become nuanced as you delve deeper into a particular subject. When my high school calculus teacher, Mr. Parling, told us "everyday you learn more and more about less and less" I was puzzled by what he was saying. As I grew older I realized he was referring to the process of learning that leads to breakthroughs. These processes are ones where small incremental gains, over time, lead to large conceptual understandings. It is remarkable to think of learning this way, because viewed through this lens we are truly learning everyday.