Week 1 - Thoughts on Learning

1) What is learning?

I would define learning is the acquisition, synthesis, and application of knowledge. To really learn a skill or a piece of information, you must acquire the information, synthesize it in your brain by relating it to what background knowledge you already have, then apply it by practicing the skill or applying the information. By doing those three things, you have actually learned it!

2) How can learning be best effectuated by a teacher/trainer?

To answer this, I first had to look up the word "effectuated" because I wasn't sure what type of derivation of "effect" that word actually meant. According to dictionary.com, it is a verb that means "to bring about; effect." So, I guess the question could be reworded to say, "How does a teacher effect learning?"

Teachers can effect learning in a variety of ways.
1) Teachers can directly impact the attitude of the learner. If a teacher is positive, the learner is more likely to be positive and have an open mind to learning the content. Conversely, a cynical teacher with a negative attitude may create an environment in which learning is a chore and becomes cumbersome.
2) Teachers can effect the learning by the instructional strategies they use. Students learn in different ways and through different means. For example, a well-intended lecture may not be the best teaching strategy for a student who is a tactile learner. Teachers can effect a wider variety of students by altering their teaching strategies to incorporate the strengths of many different types of learners.