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Adult education: How to be an active learner

All learning is active, otherwise it is indoctrination or passive learning which is not really learning at all.

Being a parrot to someone else's point of view is being indoctrinated ... it's the passive way - that is not what learning is about.

Real learning is empowering and has you in the driver's seat from start to finish. It's about empowerment, and a good teacher knows how to get you there. You are not simply along for the ride, but you are "filled in" about how to navigate the subject and encouraged to draw your own conclusions.

That said, here's how to animate and thoroughly participate in the learning process:

1) Engage in dialog and ask questions - the two are not mutually exclusive.

It is said that "knowledge is more about asking the right questions than about having the right answers". Here's the clincher: it is valuable to the learning process that you ask questions "within yourself" as well as of your course instructor. An exceptional teacher will set out the bait to pique your curiosity - and also introduce you to tools and methods of research in terms of retrieving your own answers.

Dialoging is what happens next; you bring forth your findings for interactive discussion and feedback. This helps cement the learning process and often goes way beyond the simple question and answer process.

2) Take notes, draw diagrams.

The very process of writing down information engages areas of the brain not otherwise involved. This also helps cement the learning process and commits more to memory. Even doodling during a seminar has its place! If all else fails, it will keep you focused.

3) Cross-reference.

Don't rely on any one source of information. Compare, compare, compare! Though different texts and supplemental materials may agree on all the main points (or not), they each speak in different voices, adding dimension to the subject matter and giving you a better grasp of the subject.

4) DO!

If possible "apply" or experience aspects of the course material in everyday life. Visit a museum or historical landmark, do something "hands-on" that relates to what you are learning. It may involve volunteer work, viewing a masterpiece up close, strolling through a historical district or perusing a rare manuscript. Create an adventure out of it and become part of the action. The world can be your lab.

Above all, strive for originality and don't leave your inherent IQ at the door of the classroom. Learning is not mere rote. The active learner not only gleans from course material, but ultimately may contribute a unique perspective to it, enriching the learning experience for self and others as well. Now that's active learning at its best!

Learn more about this author, Violet Fortune.
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