EXPERIENCES OF TRUE LEARNING.

‘’All true learning is experience, everything else is just information.’’ We learn 10% of what we read, 15% of what we hear, but 80% of what we experience. Says an article from  New Horizons in Learning.


Although Sylvia's learning experience was not easy, her positive attitude enabled her to make it.She consulted with her counselors teachers and fellow students and finally overcame the obstacles she encountered. She also realized there are diverse ways of solving problems and also that learning is a process.

I have discovered that deep or true learning experiences are not easy but have been difficult. I’ve had to have great motivation and inspirational goals to drive me forward. When I focused on the end result and when ever I felt it would be worthwhile, I was motivated to keep moving forward.

Learning is a process which takes time and patience and has many challenges along the way. I realized I needed to have strong commitment to face the challenges and obstacles in my way without giving up. Without commitment it has been very easy to give up at the first hurdle

The reality is sometimes very different from the expected and at times I’ve had to be adaptable in order to learn. In one of my Projects the instruction was in the local language which I also speak but I found it easier to write and record in English. When I informed my instructor about my dilemma, we both realized he needed to instruct me in a different way from the others if I was to learn. Good enough he was ready to give me  special time and he would also use visual aids to illustrate unfamiliar terms or concepts. At the end I found that I was really learning. In addition I also asked for help from my fellow learners which was willingly given.

Learning also requires lots of practise till a task is accomplished. In the project I referred to above, my instructor informed me I had to be ready to re do  my work again and again until he was satisfied. ( he happened to be a perfectionist). Doing a task over and over was frustrating but his commendation of Well done at each stage made it worthwhile and I felt a great sense of accomplishment at the end.

John Dewey states that.....we learn from reflecting on our experiences. As I look back, I realize I learnt a lot  a lot from my experiences which I can adapt and  use in other situations for success. 



Additions

I would like to add some more ideas from Marilyn Lombardis article some of which are similar to mine.
Challenges should be open to multiple interpretation and can be solved in different ways. This opens up the possibility that the same challenges can be solved in new innovation ways.

Learners should also always realize that many problems are not solved in a short period of time but that its authentic ones are solved over sustained periods of time in as much as learning is a process not a single event.

Team work or Collaboration is the way to go to get maximum results.When the learners become part of group discussions and all contribute, the learning experience becomes richer. 

Learners should also be encouraged to reflect on their learning experiences and also make suggestions on how things can be better.