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Here's my journal write re: what is learning?

Learning is the gaining of new knowledge and experiences. It is adding information to the framework that already exists within our brains and bodies. Not all of it is on purpose—when we burn our hand, we learn not to touch the hot stove, but that may not have been what we intending to do or to focus on at that given point. It has to build on a base of what exists within a person already, and it varies from each individual to the next. I understand it to occur in all settings, sometimes on purpose and at other times accidental. The more meaning and emphasis or emotions that are involved with the experience, the greater the learning, for the most part. The infusion of technology has created obstacles and potholes for learning. There is an ease of access there now, but it’s not always moderated and so students don’t know how to assess if information is true, reliable, and trustworthy. They also think that for research, etc. that just copying info. From a website is acceptable practice….they don’t want to rewrite it in their own words, or compare that information to any others, at least some of them don’t!

The article teaches me that I need to consider the framework that students are bringing to the classroom each and every day. I should be asking them why they think a certain way, or what they did to find an answer, and be sure to value the different approaches and explanations, not just looking for one particular answer.