I believe learning occurs when a person is exposed to something new. This could be an experience in their life, information in a classroom, or a conversation with a friend. Essentially, we are all learning new things all the time. I think some things are committed to memory more easily based on how interesting we find something or how important it is to us. In the case of learning about things in a classroom and trying to commit them to memory, I think we often need repetition in order for that information to stick with us. I know that for myself, information about science and art always stayed with me longer and were remembered more easily than information in English and social studies. I didn’t find social studies interesting in the least and had to study a lot to remember the facts and details that I needed for tests and quizzes. For the arts and sciences, however, I rarely had to do much studying.

If I had to choose a learning philosophy to subscribe to it would be the philosophy that pertains to hands-on learning. I have always learned better by applying information that by merely memorizing it. Even writing was hands-on enough that I found it easier to learn by taking notes than just by reading the material. I have always been good at art and found art, science, and math to be the easiest subjects to remember information about. Art is the most obvious because I can create, draw, and sculpt my ideas to practice them firsthand. In math and science I could easily apply new information and get the same results from an equation or situation each time, and thus it made them easier to learn about.

In a learning environment, the teacher is there to guide students towards knowledge and clear up any misconceptions about it. The learner’s role is to take all of those opportunities given by their teacher and expand upon what is offered. Sometimes that requires doing a project or writing an essay. Perhaps the learner needs to apply a formula to solve a math problem. If the learner runs into a problem they cannot solve or has a question, it is the teacher’s job to help clear up their questions and make the information clearer to them. I also think that the teacher should offer opportunities to expand on basic knowledge for those students who need extra enrichment. For example, if I am learning about the rainforest in my science class I think that the teacher should have additional resources there for me if I am finished with assignments but want to learn more.

Correct application is a visible sign of learning. If a student can work through a problem correctly, complete an assignment, or answer a question it shows that they have learned. Asking questions is another sign of learning. I have always said that making mistakes is the best way to learn, and when a student shows that they are puzzled by something, it shows me that they are learning and growing. Since we learn about things through every interaction we have in a day, learning could really look like almost anything. However, showing that you have learned something requires being able to present your knowledge in some way.

I think technology provides us with many different opportunities to streamline and enrich the education process. First of all, it gives us an easier way to research new material. I find myself constantly using my phone to look up everything from the definition of a word to a new recipe. If students had constant access to technology it would allow them to find menial information on their own very quickly (such as the meaning of a word) and would allow the teacher more time to work with students who are struggling or who are in need of more challenge. Technology also allows students to opportunity to have more choice in their education. A teacher would have endless ways to allow students to find information about a topic and apply to an assignment. It would also allow students who finish early to practice skills in a particular subject area or to do more research on a topic they are interested in.