Learning about learning
I was recently inspired by a very simple event that helped people to pause and think about learning in two ways: firstly by considering a three-dimensional model that initially looks impossible to re-create and secondly by unpacking what a positive approach to learning looks like using scrabble(R) tiles.
Research suggests that "learning styles" are not useful as a functional model (see, for example, Newton and Miah, 2017). However, it is clear from several hundred learners I have observed undertaking these exercises that some people can visualise and explore scenarios more easily than others and can do this in different ways.
The real learning epiphany happens when people suddenly "get" what they need to do to recreate the 3-D puzzle and suddenly see all the different ways of describing what they have learned. At this point they can almost feel the neural pathways being formed. Helping others to get to this point is sometimes much harder but we, the tutors, always insist that everyone can get there - they just haven't got there YET. This is the principle of "Growth Mindset" - something I've posted about before.
I tried out the 3-D puzzle with my colleagues at work, all learning professionals with many years of experience between them. The results were exactly the same - diving in, initial confusion, impossibility of the task, lack of belief in themselves, giving up. Then a sudden realisation at one end of the table and the spread of the learning and growth in mastery as this was shared.
Unpacking this event led to much discussion about how people learn and how we can help our learners turn perceived failure into success when they find they are struggling with situations, concepts or new information. The one problem everyone was keen to point out was how much time it took to let people learn in this way.
I left the group with the question: if it takes too long to allow learning, what needs to be done? What do you think?
Newton, P. M., & Miah, M. (2017). Evidence-Based Higher Education - Is the Learning Styles 'Myth' Important?. Frontiers in psychology, 8, 444. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2017.00444
I was privileged to be present when Clive gave us the 3D model challenge. This was the first time I had come across this challenge and I found it an interesting experience. At first what seemed like an impossible task was presented to us. First thoughts... “what is this wizardry before me”... As Clive said in his article, the temptation is to start cutting and folding to get the desired object, however, by doing this you would inevitably cut or fold in the wrong place. What this taught me was: 1. Study the problem - although it looks impossible, it must be possible (unless it is wizardry) 2. Design the impossible- Attempt cuts and folds in your mind to recreate it. In this case flattening the object with your mind. 3. Tackle the problem - after taking stock and running through solutions in your mind, you can then recreate the object. I, for one, am planning to baffle my kids with magic - thank you for the learning opportunity and new puzzle.