Learning Experience

Everyday is a new learning. When an experience has created a permanent change to an individual to become better, then that is learning. And I consider that each day should be a learning event even in minute circumstances in daily living.

I would say self-examination at the end of the day is a good practice of evaluating what one learned from an experience. If this is used to inspire us to make things better, then it is a learning experience. This is how I perceive learning in practical realities, but I think it is different learning in a formal setting.

In a formal setting, the usual experience is one learns from the knowledge or skills given by the teacher but may not be giving an opportunity to experience or facilitate learning in a reflective way. The methods would be depending on the subject to be learned, but it can be validated through the degree earned or the license gained which is an evident of learning even if it’s done in a traditional way wherein knowledge and skills were just given.

On the other hand, there are methods used composed of readings and reflections connected to one’s own experience, and I consider this approach to be a more effective way of learning.   Again these are two completely different learning/teaching methods and both has resulted to a change. The question is which one really had given an enduring change in a person, and that would be a more effective learning.

Learning is connected to knowing something new or improving and enhancing what is already known.  It should result to a change.  What was learned should be permanent which is a result from a human experience, or gained because of an experience. 

Permanent change is caused by maturation (biological growth) and/or learning (change due to experience).  The biological development or maturation of a person cannot be controlled by a teacher, but he/she can guide a student to have an experience or realize an experience that would result to a permanent or enduring change.

Teaching is a way in which a teacher gives a chance for students to experience or that through an experience, such would result to a change which is permanent and relevant to their growth and development. It is not just giving knowledge or skills and instructions to students, just like an authority, nor just re-read a book just like a narrator, but rather a teacher as a leader. Teaching is leading the students to an experience wherein they should actively participate, which would facilitate lasting effect.

It is similar to my point of view and experience of learning.  I learn more when I reflect, when I can relate my experience to what is being taught. When an experience is analyzed, meaning is realized, and the realization is put into action then that is learning. When what was taught has a positive change to move forward, that is when teaching is effective.

A teacher’s personal perception or perspective can contribute to a more subjective interpretation of a subject rather than to be objective to give well-founded information that would guide the way to learning.  This makes teaching as both science and art.  Art because it creatively facilitates an experience of learning and science because it objectively interpret valid information.