2.1.1: EXPERIENCES OF TRUE LEARNING

Learning can be challenging or fun, difficult or easy. All of us must have found it to be either one or the other. For a truly deep and rewarding learning experience, certain aspects must be true about the learner, the teacher and/or the school:

1. The learning environment must be friendly and social. Does the learner socialize well? Does s/he socialize to learn? Does s/he learn  as s/he socializes?  
2. Facilitation. Is the learner well facilitated or not? 
3. Active participation. Is the learner actively involved in his or her learning? 
4. Does the learner set her own goals or s/he waits to achieve whatever goals have been set for her or him? 
5. Does the learner set his or her own time of study? Is s/he self-driven? 
6. The learner must know something. Learning takes place from knowledge to knowledge. One must build on what one already knows.
7. Access to help. Is there a way the learner can be helped? Does s/he seek help? Is the help freely offered? 
8. Associative learning. Is there anything with which the learner can associate new ideas, concepts or words to ease the process?
9. Is the learner inquisitive? Does s/he source for more information about the concept through research? 
10. Learner should be periodically guided. S/he must be working under the watchful eye of a mentor.
11. Positive attitude. Does the learner have a positive attitude to learning or positive outlook to life?
12. Self-image. How does the learner view him or herself? One learns better if s/he views herself or himself as a winner.
13. Passion, enthusiasm. Is the learner passionate about material content? 
14. Is the learner frequently or constantly practicing what s/he is learning? 
15. Allowing mistakes during the learning process. Unwillingness to make or allow mistakes may be a sign of perfectionism and it's not good for learning. 
16. Accountability. Does the learner feel accountable to anybody with regard to her learning? 
17. Immediate response, accepting correction. Does the learner receive immediate response to her work or submissions? How does s/he react to the response? 
18. Listening to others. Is the learner a good listener? Does the learner freely welcome other peoples' opinions? 
19. Take learning outside class. Does the learner limit her learning only to the classroom?