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LEARNING HOW TO LEARN : -
Learning is the most important single activity done by a
newborn animal. This ability to learn new skills and techniques
determines the quality of its survival. Human beings have institutionalized
this activity in the form of schools and colleges. However how to
learn is never taught in the schools, as it is taken almost for
granted that "Teachers teach and students learn". This is not so.
As every teacher knows that nobody can teach unless somebody wants
to learn. In fact one who wants to learn will learn even if nobody
is there to teach him. The story of Eklavya is a pointer in this
direction.
Extreme emphasis is given on memorization in today’s education
and understanding takes a backseat in the process. A thing which
is well understood is better memorized is forgotten. Therefore we
must know the prerequisites of understanding. To understand any
given situation the mind has to be still. A still mind focuses in
an instant and can stay focussed for a long time. The best way to
focus mind is simple abdominal breathing. Anybody whose breathing
is disturbed is unable to focus and thus unable to understand. Pain
can suddenly focus the mind as all of us know a sudden slap on the
back or bottom makes us immediately focussed. Many tennis players
slap themselves to bring their attention to the moment. However
giving pain to somebody or even to oneself is a violent act and
as such should not be used unless an exceptional situation demands
it.
Once the mind is still and therefore focussed information can be
transferred audio visually or kinesthetically. There are many types
of students and there are many different ways in which a student
can absorb information, analyze it, understand its significance
and synthesize it as per his or her requirement for future use.
A large number of students are unable to absorb information simply
through audiovisual means. These students learn only through actual
use of their body and not only through the use of two senses. Thus
while teaching division by simply telling the students that twenty
five mangoes are to be evenly distributed amongst five students
is not sufficient information for these students unless physically
this is done. They are unable to comprehend how come each gets five
mangoes unless they actually physically feel this happening. Given
today’s overcrowded schools imparting knowledge kinesthetically
appears impossible. However some thought must be given to this handicap
of many students.
Mind gets focussed simply if the situation is interesting or threatening
to the individual. It is easy to threaten small children but it
is very difficult to attract their interest. Here lies the trick
with which a teacher becomes successful. Any subject that is made
interesting is easily learnt by the students. This requires great
understanding of the subject, acting talents, communication skills
and many other lesser attributes.
In teaching physical skills “doing” and “happening”
has to be properly understood. When a student is learning to make
a serve in tennis he is trying to do something repeatedly. Initially
he or she may not be able to connect but suddenly it is possible
to connect without any apparent reason. This is “happening”.
This happening leaves a memory trail in our brain that lasts for
a few seconds. This is the time to mentally repeat the movement
to strengthen that trail so that this happening can be brought into
doing. Once any movement can be done at will the student has to
persevere and wait for further happenings that can be brought into
doings.
Awareness is continuous, simultaneous, nonjudgmental and if possible
total perception of internal and external environment. Learning
needs great awareness, which may not be there with an average student.
However awareness is one quality which can be transferred from one
person to the other. If teachers are aware and become more and more
aware, their presence works like a catalyst and the students become
more and more aware. This is much like a flame being transferred
from one wick to the other and nothing diminishes from the lit wick
but everything changes for the unlit wick.
Prerequisite of learning is to know how to learn. Simply pouring
information from a book or a computer means little in terms of learning.
The students attention can be trapped in as many ways as there are
teachers but the ultimate learning can happen if the recipient of
this information can analyze it resynthesize it and turn it into
knowledge out of understanding. Great teachers are those who simply
induce in their students a state of awareness which leads to learning.
They really teach without teaching.
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