LEARNING: STRATEGIES- II

 

LEARNING: STRATEGIES- II

FORMS OF LEARNING

Learning need not be by a set pattern or formal. It can be informal as well. Informal occasions sail smooth as they do not impose restrictions. Such situations constitute ‘passive learning’ as against the ‘active learning’ which is the official form in classroom; it goes by time and carries out assessment for finding out the ‘grasp’ of the learner. Therefore, a sense of urgency is associated with class rooms of formal teaching.

LEARNERS’ DUTY

Learner can assess self by methodic evaluation; reciting the pieces learnt, writing / re-writing passages from ‘what has been understood’ are useful. Such practices help the person to find out the ability for retention. Recapitulation [‘chewing the cud’] is a process of refining the ability for long term memory. Memory is helpful for ‘non-analytic’ purposes [spelling, historic year, formulae, author names etc.]  But, memory shall not be taxed for the sake of facing examinations. Allowing the mind to grasp an idea is a superior method to support memory and the converse [forcing the mind to remember without grasping] suppresses learning instead of supporting it.

COMPREHENSION Vs MEMORIZING                           

Memory is a capacity for recalling routine information; it has short and long term components. The latter are essential particularly in higher education, analyses, interpretation and correlating cause –effect phenomena. However, memory is also conditioned by familiarity. Several items can be held in memory by systematic training. Always trying to relate an item to its closest link is a simple exercise of memory-training.  Frequent recalling of items [such as names, ideas, spelling] is the simplest approach to memory training. It should be a daily habit to trigger memory by recalling.

Recalling should not be by rote or forcible memorizing. Forcibly memorizing a subject fatigues the mind and the spirit of learning. Learning is not repeating the message; it is total understanding of ideas related to a process/event/ complex connections in a theory.  Total understanding is Comprehension. It has the advantage of effortless remembering. ONLY SUCH ‘COMPREHENDED’ IDEAS CONSTITUTE KNOWLEDGE. Knowledge gets integrated to the learner, only if the information is fully understood. A long ensemble determines the ‘knowledge’ of the person. Knowledgeable persons do not entertain fear. Fear is a sign of poor comprehension. Alarmingly, fear is a natural barrier to comfortable learning.

KNOWLEDGE and WISDOM

A series of components lead us to knowledge. Assembling varied subunits [letters, words, statements] provides some information. Different pieces of information can constitute a subject. Varied facets of a subject can form the ‘knowledge’ for a defined territory. Thus, knowledge encompasses, understanding of all lower subunits. Knowledge accrues from long systematic comprehension of all components. Application of knowledge to effectively solve problems is wisdom. Knowledge is a step towards wisdom. Wisdom may emerge from careful application of knowledge by systematic judgment of every step.

  

HOW TO PROCEED

For improvement, every previous step is important. Thoroughly understand the first step before entering the second step; at every stage be sure of all its features and go up. It should be implicitly followed for every lesson, subject and situation. Soon, the learner would be happily surprised of his or her ability to understand. Even more interesting it would be to recognize that memory is fresh and learning turns pleasant from its current cumbersome state. Remember to recall items without looking to the study material. Progressively, fear recedes, hope blossoms leading to hard work and pride of learning.

TO AVOID                                                    TO DO                                                  

*Fear                                                           *Stay in focus     

*Comparison with others                           * Learn by comprehending

*Score-Centric learning                             * Equip self in many languages

*Looking for job even while studying       *Learning from informal sources                      

 Prof. K. Raman