Definition

= **Collective Definition of Learning** =
 * Share your definition of what it means to really learn something. How do you know you have learned something? How can you tell a student has really learned something?**
 * 1) **Write a sentence, a paragraph, an essay, as long as you begin with 'Learning is ...'**
 * 2) **Add to and extend someone else's definition.**
 * 3) **Share a link to a webpage about learning**

 Learning is ...
... a constantly unfolding process in which we interact with the world and make sense of it. ... making connections between what i know and what is new in order to build new information. ... satisfying curiosity ... that AHA! moment when I finally understand something ... is joyful ... an invitation to pure excitement and exhilaration (Jeffrey Kaplan, 1997 - see below)

LINKS to definitions or discussions of learning & teaching
A discussion of learning and the power of drama by JEFFREY KAPLAN, in an article entitled **[|Acting Up across the Curriculum: Using Creative Dramatics To Explore Adolescent Literature]**, in the 1997 issue of The Alan Review Here is an excerpt from the article. 'For real learning is joyful. Learning, and more importantly, collaborating in the learning experience, is an invitation to pure excitement and exhilaration. Schooling should be, as William Purkey says in Inviting School Success, "a coming together for creative worthwhile purposes that can extend human experiences" (p.23). In Side By Side, Nancy Atwell writes, "Part of the richness of our students' lives is their play, including language play. If we make room for it in our classrooms, we can help students use writing to recognize, think about, and comment on the ridiculous in their worlds. We can help them be clever" (p.49)'

[|Here] is a graphic depiction of various concepts of learning. This is a great page because it contains links to other pages that explain, among other things, active learning, Bloom's taxonomy, competencies, elearning, history of learning, learning styles, memory, reflecting, transfer of learning....

[|HERE is a short article by Atherton (2005)] about the meaning of learning from the point of view of a teacher working with students, plus links on his website to thumbnail explanations of various theories of learning with helpful references. [|Atherton's description of himself] and his career as an educator is also well worth a read for its wry self-deprecating humour.


 * What makes a great teacher?** Teaching is one of the most complicated jobs today. It demands broad knowledge of subject matter, curriculum and standards; enthusiasm, a caring attitude and a love of learning; knowledge of discipline and classroom management techniques; and a desire to make a difference in the lives of young people. With all these qualities required, it's no wonder that it's hard to find great teachers. [|(read more...)]