Learning to Learn

This paper, written by professors Karl R. Wirth and Dexter Perkins, focuses on significant learning and its applications to learning in higher education and , more specifically, its applications to the field of geology.

In addition to being able to recall information and ideas, one also needs to be able to apply one's knowledge or skills to new situations; this is application. This includes learning to engage in new kinds of thinking (critical, creative, practical) as well as certain skills (communication, playing an instrument, etc.). The learning categories here are: foundational knowlege, application, integration, human dimension, caring, and learning how to learn.

Effective Learning and Learning Styles
The best learning occurs when students are engaged in active learning. Cooperative learning is an important component of active learning. The key step to effective learning is identifying your learning style. After that, you can improve learning by translating material from other modes into a mode that best fits you. Since there are many different ways of modeling learning, it is important to be aware of your own learning style preferences so that you can make the necessary adjustments to maximize your learning.

Strengths

• Aids in becoming an intentional learner - an integrative thinker who sees connections in seemingly disparate information to inform his/her decisions.
• Aids in becoming a self-directed learner - someone who is highly motivated, independent, and strives towards self-direction and autonomy
• Active learning improves student knowledge retention, conceptual understanding, engagement, and attitudes about learning.
• Cooperative learning improves individual achievement, metacognitive thought, willingness to assume difficult tasks, persistence, motivation, and transfer of learning to new situations.
• Learning improves brain function

Challenges

• Becoming/being an intentional learner takes deliberate effort and continual reflection.