What does it mean to learn something well? I have been wrestling with this idea. I see students focus simply on the mechanical and visual side of learning... they want to show their work correctly. But learning well is much more than this.
I am going to put up the following information on a poster in my room.
LEARNING WELL
Conceptually Mechanically and Visually Behaviorally and Habitually
* Understand it * Show work correctly * Intentional Precision
* Explain it * See and do as shown * Get it right and know you
* Draw it got it right
* Talk about it
I see 3 aspects to learning well. The first has to do with simply conceptually understanding the material. Here the student needs to be able to explain, talk about and/or draw concept to show understanding. If a students says they understand a concept but then can't communicate about the concept, then their level of understanding needs to improve.
Secondly, students need to be able to show their work correctly. Many students focus here on the mechanical and visual, but struggle when they lack the conceptual understanding.
Thirdly, students need to develop habits, strategies and routines to get problems correct and double check that their solution and work is correct. They need to adopt behaviors and habits that enable them to be right and know that they are right.
How can a student double check their work when they lack a conceptual understanding of the material?
How can a student clearly communicate how they arrived at a solution and be able to double check their work, unless they show their work in a easy to follow mechanical and visual manner?
How can a student say they understand a concept when they are unable to clearly communicate about it?
I want my students to Learn Well. I hope that creating and using this poster as a sort of check list, will help each of my students be more successful at getting to the place of Learning Well and also knowing that they are at the place of Learning Well when they get there.
Day 37
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