Doyna Johnston
Learning Philosophy
Learning by Doing Philosophy
“Give the pupils something to do, not something to learn; and the doing is of such a nature as to demand thinking; learning naturally results.” — John Dewey.
The most effective way to facilitate learning is "learning by doing"; learning happens best when students actively engage in critical thinking rather than passively absorbing information meant to be memorized. Memorization fades away, while learning by doing will always enable the learner to draw conclusions and solve problems and situations that memory by itself will not resolve.
What is my learning philosophy?
Constructivism is an educational philosophy that encourages students to build up their knowledge and comprehension of the world by having experiences and thinking back on those experiences as a reflection of their drawing conclusions. This point of view holds that learning is an active, cognitive process in which students make sense of newly learned material by integrating their prior knowledge and experiences; in other words, by interconnecting learning, and meaningful experiences.
Considering the current state of education, constructivism is a source that facilitates learning experiences more naturally and organically, placing the individual in the context of his or her natural environment and background knowledge.
My Learning Believe-Practices
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The Freedom to Create
“... learning, or to learn, is coming to know something, to acquire knowledge, or to find something out” ( Harapnuik, 2015).
Having the freedom to create on your own allows you to feel almost divinely inspired when you can create a craft, artifact, or project by participating in the decision-making process. That per se, in my opinion, is a fundamental aspect of human nature. As a species, we have survived to this day because, in truth, we have been creators, builders, and seekers since our origin.
It is true that when we achieve proficiency in a craft or discipline, we feel satisfied. However, the cause is also very significant. We want to be part of something greater, and many of us would like to contribute, to giving back.
One clear example of the autonomy of a masterpiece is found in the master painters, who not only paint to exercise their expression; but also conceptualize via their works; creating movements such as Impressionism and Post-Impressionism. When we take this approach to our daily tasks, the purpose of our endeavor comes to life. Suddenly, this modality, from my perspective, is the most effective way to grow oneself as a learner in the face of challenges and adversity. The only way to shake off the dogmas of the past, and transform our educational viewpoint is to renew ourselves, in spirit and practice.
In a cordial request, here is an invitation to read my learning proposal Digital Writing Journals. Taking into account the constructivist COVA approach (Harapnuick et al., 2018) to accomplish the task in mind, my proposal emphasizes the writing of digital journals as a learning tool for my students to reflect on the information they are internalizing to evaluate how relevant and applicable it is to their real world, based on their individual previous experiences.
The Role of a Learning Facilitator
“ A learning facilitator is one who creates an environment in which someone can come to know something, acquire knowledge, or gain information and experience” (Harapnuik, 2015).
A learning facilitator is committed to fostering an environment that is conducive to the learner's acquisition of knowledge and the development of meaningful connections (Harapnuik, 2015).
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The Learning Experience
Most importantly, the authenticity of the learning experience results in the successful internalization made of it by each individual’s mind which interconnects and builds through a significant association process.
Significant Learning Environments
Therefore, a facilitator creates a purposeful learning environment where the connections and the awesome eureka ideas will take place in the alert minds of his or her pupils. Consequently, a learning facilitator is in charge of developing curricula that encourage students to learn through project-based learning to satisfy the curious, inquisitive minds of his or her learners. To achieve this purpose, a learning facilitator has to be a highly qualified individual in the area of study.
A positive learning environment exists, signifying that we can establish a safe and nurturing space where both educators and learners can flourish. To enhance instructional effectiveness and better understand our students' needs, educators must stay informed about the latest advancements in the field of education. Continuous learning is crucial for facilitating significant educational experiences.
I would like to provide you with a link to my most recent work on " The New Culture of Learning," where I discuss the value of learning environments and how they help students meet their learning goals.
Learning Styles
Promoting learning experiences that cater to the various learning styles of students is an essential task for the facilitator. Encouraging the senses to awaken and spark awareness that will enable learners to internalize the desired concepts, knowledge, and procedures is the artisan result of the work of an experienced learning facilitator.
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Student-Centered Learning
Constructivism emphasizes that understanding is created through interaction with others and fully engaging with the material, putting the learner at the center of the educational process.
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Who am I as a learner?
As a learner and as an educator I am inclined towards the constructivist theory of learning. From a young age, I have possessed an innate curiosity to explore literature that exceeded my comprehension at the time. My paternal grandmother, Elena, who dedicated forty years of her life as a teacher in the rural communities of Nayarit, Mexico, nurtured my passion for reading. Elena was my first reading teacher, I appreciate it, Abuela. By the time I entered kindergarten, with Elena’s instruction, I was able to read simple children’s theme books. Later on, I continued reading almost all sorts of books that were in my father’s little private library. My father Alejandro, who is a physician was my second reading teacher. Since then, my inquisitive curiosity has consistently driven me to seek and search new areas of study throughout my professional journey.
This is a cordial invitation to read “ My Learning Manifesto” which describes in more detail my perspective toward the learning experience, the center point of student-centered instruction as the ultimate goal.
Teaching VS Learning
Teaching involves conveying knowledge or skills to an individual through instruction or demonstration; it also encompasses providing lessons in a particular subject area. (Harapnuik, 2015).
The process of learning is dynamic and active, requiring students to build new concepts or ideas from what they already know or have learned. For knowledge and learning to take place, significant connections must be made ( Harapnuik, 2015). Therefore as far as I am concerned, the learning experience is the most crucial component that a learning facilitator has to carefully plan so that their students can have the opportunity to internalize knowledge.
Here is the link for my annotated bibliography: Annotated Bibliography
References
Harapnuik, D. (2015, May 9). Creating significant learning environments (CSLE) [Video]. YouTube, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZ-c7rz7eT4
Harapnuick, Thibodeaux , & Cummings. (2018, January). COVA. Lamar University.https://tilisathibodeaux.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/COVA_eBook_Jan_2018.pdf
Harapnuik, D. (2022, May 9). .It's About the Learning First [Video]. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t70YLzbeyzA
Horn, M.B, Staker, H., & Christensen, C.M. (2017). Blended: using disruptive innovation to improve schools. Jossey–Bass.
TEDxTalks. (2012, September 12). A new culture of learning[Video].YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lM80GXlyX0U.
Thomas, D., & Brown, J. S. (2011). A New Culture of Learning: Cultivating the Imagination for a World of Constant Change. In Amazon (1st edition). CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. https://www.amazon.com/New-Culture-Learning-Cultivating-Imagination/dp/1456458884
Zajda, J. (2021) Constructivist Learning Theory and Creating Effective Learning Environments. Springer Publishers.